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February, 2018 The Antique Shoppe Page 15
Questions & Q. 7¼in and has square legs graduating at a slant. From the top it
Dear Mr. Taylor - I have a wooden stool measuring 13in X 9in X

Common Sense Answers appears that the legs are fitted into round enclosures. On the bottom
there is a paper tag and a small bronze oval plaque. The paper says,
"Cushman Colonial Creations" with information about the aging process
with Fred Taylor and construction. As the print is green it is difficult to read on the dark
brown background. From the bronze tag comes the name of the company
and the fact that it was constructed in Bennington, VT. Right above that
I'm interested in finding out the approximate there is "CUSHMAN" pressed into the wood and
Q. age and value of some very old chairs that above that the number 9038. Could you give me a
have been in my family for many years. One is a bit of history on such an item and its worth please? I
Shaker type chair and two are caned chairs. purchased it a nearby auction for my grandchildren's
—Tom K., e-mail use.

Tom - The two caned chairs are from the latter Cheryl - After the Civil War Henry Cushman
A. part of the 19th century, circa 1880. The one A. returned to his home in Bennington and
on the right in the photo is faintly Eastlake styled and started his own company making corks, pencil boxes
the other is what was generically called a "country" and a variety of novelties. The company turned
chair. Both are factory made, probably in the mid to furniture in the late 1880s and the "Colonial
West. Both appear to be made of birch although the Creations" line was developed in 1933 to ride the
Eastlake chair could be walnut - I can't tell from the tide of the increasingly popular Colonial Revival.
photo. Each chair would be valued in the range of ↑These two caned That line continued through the 1950s and lasted for
$100 at a good auction. chairs were factory a short time after the company was sold in 1964 to
I can't tell too much about the Shaker chair made in the 1880s. General Interiors and combined with Shaw Furniture
from the photo. An original Shaker would probably Company in North Carolina. For a complete history of
have a rush or splint seat rather that an upholstered The Shaker style the company visit the Bennington Museum website at
chair probably
one. The basic form appears to be consistent with would have had http://www.thisisvermont.com/storycushman.html.
Mt. Lebanon chairs of the mid 19th century but it a tape of splint The website addresses the subject of "Colonial
lacks the delicacy of that era. I also could not see any seat rather than Creations" but not the Cushman aging process. The
evidence of wear on the lower rungs or on the back upholstery.→ aging process was described elsewhere as including
slats. I suggest you have it evaluated by a local dealer. "staining and scuffing". Since the Colonial Creations
Thanks for writing and thanks for the photos. Continued on Page 16

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