I'm trying to learn more about an A & C chair that has a label identifying it as from the 'Tregeo Arnot Chair Co.' in 'Dansville'. The label is slightly difficult to read at the beginning, so it is possible I'm misspelling 'Tregeo'. Does anyone know anything about this company, or can anyone point me toward a resource that would be helpful? I can post a picture of the chair if that would be helpful.
That is one interesting chair - obviously a very distinctive carving. Can you check or confirm if it is hand carved or machine carved? Either way its a great chair. I still can't help on a maker but to guess I would say its a commissioned piece, not a production line piece, from a smaller shop or custom builder. On the other hand the top rail may have been added later, by cutting down a standard chair, but who knows. The subject matter might also suggest European origin because I can't say I know of or have heard of any American makers using religious motifs (assuming the two gents are monks). The upholstery I'm assuming is not original, and it might be something to consider having it done in leather some day. A very cool looking chair.
I'm pretty sure that the carving is hand-done. I've attached a close-up of the carving. You may be right that the top rail may be a latter addition, though. I hadn't thought of that. Looking at a side view of the chair, it may indeed be placed on after-the-fact. I've attached a pic with a view of that, but I'll look at it more closely when I can next look at it directly. I'm pretty sure the chair itself is American, probably produced in Dansville, NY. The tag on it has a space for a Lot No. and Order No., but nothing was written into that space. Are there online/in print resources you might recommend that show the innerds of period chairs so I can at least confirm that the structures of the base are original, even if the upholstery itself is not?
Ooops, I guess I missed the original Dansville reference, so yes that would indicate an American piece. In terms of 'innerds' construction, not much has changed in the last hundred years. The inside of the base rails should have squared corner braces cut with 45 degree ends and screwed in place with flat head straight cut screws. The seat is built up from a 'drop in' frame, sort of like a picture frame, and might have springs but maybe just lots of stuffing. The way the upholstery looks on yours, someone may have decided to just tack it to the rails instead of wrapping it around the bottom of the frame, as a short cut. I hope this makes sense. Again, if you can get a picture or two it will be relatively easy to say its original, altered or whatever.
Now, back to the carving - with the close up you can see what the Monks are sitting on (and what the heck are they talking about ?!), and interestingly it looks fairly close to a sometimes seen A&C style taken from medieval times. Here's a comparative example to a Limbert:
