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Page 32 The Antique Shoppe August, 2018
The chair, in good condition, would probably sell at auction between $300
Questions & Common Sense Answers and $500. There is a very similar chair, although not as elegant or pretty as yours,

illustrated on page 120 of “The Antique Hunter’s Guide - American Furniture -
with Fred Taylor Tables, Chairs, Sofas and Beds” by Marvin D. Schwartz, published by BD&L. If your
local library or bookstore does not have a copy I will be happy to photocopy the
page and send it to you. Thanks for writing and thanks for the good photo.
Hello Fred - This chair has been in our family for ages and I know nothing
Q. about it. It was originally my grandmother’s and got passed to me when I have a chair and rocking chair set. The label reads “ Lifetime Furniture,
my father died. The only thing I do know about it, is that no one was ever allowed Q. Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Co. Hastings, Michigan”. I have not
to sit on it. Could you please help me find out anything of this chair? I cannot find been able to find too much info on these chairs. I don’t have a picture. They are
any pictures like it. —Thank you so much. Terry C. in terrible disrepair. Are they worth spending the money to restore them? Lisa.
Terry - The form of the chair, rounded back with hip rest supports, is Lisa - “Lifetime’ was a famous trademark name used by Grand Rapids
A. basically in the Rococo Revival style. Rococo Revival was the longest lived A. Bookcase & Chair Co. The company was formed in 1911 by the merger
of the so-called “Victorian” styles since it was popular from 1845 to the turn of of Grand Rapids Bookcase Co. and the Barber Bros. Chair Co. Their most famous
the century. People like John Henry Belter and J. and J.W. Meeks were among the product was the line of “Cloister” furniture issued under the Lifetime label just
foremost Rococo craftsmen of the 1850s and slightly beyond. But your chair has after the merger in 1911. The Lifetime name was
another major period influence in it that actually used primarily with Mission style furniture. Later
helps to date it. The carving of the face on the Mission styles under the Lifetime name included
crest rail and the flattened bulb turnings on the
legs are distinct elements of Renaissance Revival the “Jacobean” line (1913) and the “Puritan” line
styling. Renaissance Revival was the popular style (1917). After the Mission style faded in the 1920s
at the time of the American Centennial Exhibition and 1930s the company used another name,
in Philadelphia in 1876 and the furniture exhibit “Oakmaster”, for their heavily carved oak furniture
was dominated by the style. Many Renaissance based on European styles. Your chairs are probably
pieces were massive in size to accommodate the made of oak in the Mission style and are certainly
architectural elements used in the style yet some worth the effort and expense to have them restored,
chairs, such as yours, were still delicately engineered especially if the labels are intact. Thanks for writing.
to retain the genteel feel of the Rococo period.
Your chair was probably made between My home is just over 100 years old. I have
1870 and 1890, is probably made of walnut and Q. over the past few years been stripping paint
would be termed a “Renaissance” style chair. The from my molding. I am now working on a window
upholstery is probably not original. It looks like the that goes up my staircase. It has one large window
type of fabric often used on older chairs to enhance This Arts & Crafts/Mission set is from the height center with 16 panes around it. The problem is
their “antique” look but was actually very seldom of the period in the early 20th century. there is paint in the wavy glass and I am at a loss
seen in the periods the chairs were made. on how to get it out as it has been there for some
years. I stripped the paint off the molding and most of the window edge. I am
BUY SELL TRADE STUART able to remove the window or will be shortly as soon as the weather improves.
Palm Antique Mall Can you suggest something to remove the paint? Thank you in advance for your
2591 SE Ocean Blvd. time. Cynthia
Cynthia - Glass from over a hundred years ago was made by the cylinder
Stuart, FL 34996 North Lake Blvd.
1
oldteaks@bellsouth.net A. method. A gather of molten glass came out of the kiln and was blown into
772-463-5090 • 772-240-0894 Ocean Blvd a sphere. The sphere was then slung until it formed a cylinder. After cooling the
Blue Heron Blvd
ALWAYS BUYING 991 Palm Bch Rd Monterey Rd cylinder was scored down one side and reheated on a flat bed. When reheated
MLK Jr Blvd.
the cylinder laid itself out into a flat sheet. That accounts for the distortions in the
glass, the wavy patterns. However, the content of the old glass is essentially the
Greenwood Ave.
same as modern glass and it is impervious to chemical stripping agents. You can
714
use a chemical stripper on the glass to remove any accumulated paint. Just don’t
use a coarse pad such as steel wool to agitate the paint. Use soft polypads which
713 Congress N. Ocean Blvd.
SE Federal Hwy
are sold at all paint stores and home stores. Also do not use any heat generating
I95 device like a hair dryer or blowtorch.
You can convince yourself that the chemical stripper won’t harm the glass
76 Palm Bch Lakes Blvd. Flagler
by putting it on any piece of clear glass
Okeechobee Blvd. and then cleaning it off. If the glass was
BULLDOGGERS LAKE WORTH Flagler Dr. originally clear it will still be clear when
BKG ANTIQUES Belvedere Blvd. you clean it and rinse it. Of course the work
Antique Mall Southern Blvd will be a lot easier if you can remove the
Come in and see all our A1A window as you indicated and work it flat.
Antiques & Collectibles Summit Blvd Send your comments, questions and pictures to me
Open 7 Days A Week - Call For Hours 95 at PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or email them to
•••• Jog Rd Dixie Hwy. me at info@furnituredetective.com
Visit Fred’s website at www.furnituredetective.com
WE MAKE THE PAST A 10th Ave. Congress Ave. Federal Hwy. and check out the downloadable “Common Sense
PERFECT PRESENT! Antiques, Fine Collectibles 2 Antiques” columns in .pdf format. His book “HOW
and more...
Vendor Display Cases 205 N. Federal Hwy 2nd TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE” is now available for
Lucerne
$18.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Send check or money order
Available for Rent! Lake Worth, FL 33460 Lake Worth Road . Lake for $21.95 to Fred Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL
Ave
32 Dixie Highway 561-312-6732 1 34423
Fred and Gail Taylor’s DVD, “IDENTIFICATION OF
Lake Worth, FL 33466 We buy 1 item or entire estates! Malaleuca Ln OLDER & ANTIQUE FURNITURE”, ($17.00 + $3.00
(561)533-7707 Fax (561)533-7578 Gone Picking ‘til 10/20 S&H) are also available at the same address. For more
janetdesigns@gmail.com www.bulldoggersantiques.net information call (800) 387-6377 (9AM-4PM Eastern,
1 BUY-SELL-TRADE 2 Lantana Rd Ocean Ave M-F only), fax 352-563-2916, or e-mail
info@furnituredetective.com.
Hypoluxo Rd
.