Mystery Chair

Discussion in 'Furniture' started by daniel horstman, Jan 7, 2026 at 7:37 PM.

  1. daniel horstman

    daniel horstman New Member

    Found in O'fallon Illinois, East of St. Louis. Wood is all solid oak. Joints solid, Stained dark. Bare spot under the rear seat rail indicating missing paper label. Old style upholstery with fine material. Brass tacks all around seat and back. Silk maybe. Hoping someone has seen similar.
     

    Attached Files:

    Marote likes this.
  2. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

  3. bluumz

    bluumz Quite Busy

    The furniture gurus will likely want to see photos of the underside and joints/construction.
    Do please post them "full size". :)
     
    wlwhittier, Lucille.b and Marote like this.
  4. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Prairie/mission style?
     
    wlwhittier, Any Jewelry and komokwa like this.
  5. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    Nice chair.

    Image search is not providing beyond typical Prairie / Mission form. I tried removing the background from the side view, but it did not widen the search results.

    I would like to see a new photo in between a front and side view, maybe with sheet or a plywood panel under it to hide the grass. Something that shows off the neat way the arm is supported by the three angled slats. That may open the image search results.
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  6. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    nothing saying Stickley to me......
     
    wlwhittier, Roaring20s and Bronwen like this.
  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Nice chair, right up @verybrad 's alley.:)
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  8. daniel horstman

    daniel horstman New Member

    Thanks much for the input. Have attached several more pics. Closer look sees quarter sawn oak, dowel connections to almost all joints including the slanted arm braces, and some slotted and round head iron screw at several locations. Thinking Arts and Crafts but was hoping to find msanufacture. IMG_3737_01.JPG Screenshot 2026-01-08 at 8.49.18 AM.png
     

    Attached Files:

    Bronwen and Michael77 like this.
  9. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

  10. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    I've taken the liberty of reposting your photographs as Full Image rather than Thumbnail so they're easier for everyone to see. You'll want to remember to do that in the future. (And not to worry. All new members do the same thing in their first few posts.)

    Debora
     
    Bronwen and komokwa like this.
  11. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    Thanks for posting the new photos, great job. I'll say it again ... nice chair!

    Image search results are different, but still no match. I'll try more later. Hopefully someone will have more ideas be then.
     
    Bronwen and wlwhittier like this.
  12. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    There's a quiet, subtle elegance to it...I like it.
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  13. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Definitely arts and crafts period. Maybe just a tad later than when the best work was produced .... so say, circa 1920. Lightweight construction and form is a bit different and takes it out of the realm of being by an important US maker. Reminds me a bit more of English or European chairs but could very well be American. There were hundreds of makers of arts and crafts/mission chairs so pinning this to one would be difficult without some kind of label, advertisement, or catalog.

    I am not getting where the round dowel shown in your next to last picture is. I am assuming it is a reinforcing upright behind the back? If so, it is an odd detail not in keeping with most arts and crafts construction. Can we see an overall picture of this?
     
    Roaring20s, Bronwen and wlwhittier like this.
  14. daniel horstman

    daniel horstman New Member

    Yes, it is doweled into the inner side back of each armrest to support the back.


    Screenshot 2026-01-08 at 1.37.40 PM.png
     
    Bronwen likes this.
  15. daniel horstman

    daniel horstman New Member

    Back view of dowel from arm rest to arm rest for back support Screenshot 2026-01-08 at 1.37.40 PM copy.png
     
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