Cushman chair

Can anyone help me identify the year of this Cushman chair? It has a paper tag but no number on the tag. There is a handwritten number on the bottom of the chair that was written before the tag was placed on it so it's got to be from the time it was made and the number appears to be 625 and possibly the letter H after that. I can't find anything online that is an exact match for this chair. I would like to know the approximate timeframe of production for this piece and curious about it's value as well. The joints are loose so it's not very sturdy. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

@Drew. Welcome, @Travis2025! I've summoned our Cushman expert for you.

Debora

 

Only a certain few Cushman styles have any significant value and I don't believe this is one of them... but let's see what Drew says to be sure!

 

It's pre 'Colonial Creations' line which started in 1933 (the more modernist design, russet finish). Your chair has the paper label seen 1st quarter 20th century. Not the 30's-40's period or style which are sought as bluumz noted, but a perfectly good well made chair in a more classic Colonial design . . . an honest 100 year old piece.

 

That is a handsome chair.

Debora

 

This looks like your chair. Windsor side chair. Can be found online on the Bennington Museum web site.

https://bennington.pastperfectonline.com/archive/793128AD-EB35-4184-BFDE-231817472051#gallery-1

Debora

 

Hi Drew! So thankful for your perspective on this piece. Can you expand on the use of the paper labels? The pamphlet provided by Debora seems to indicate that this piece is part of the colonial creations line which would date it from the early 30s. Do you have any additional info that you could please provide that would explain when the paper labels were used? Most pieces that I see online use the metal tags but I understand that some may have been plastic as well. Thank you for your insight!

 

Thank you! Exactly what I was hoping to find. I couldn't find a match for this piece anywhere. Thank you so much!

 

The ad posted indicates "Cushman Reproductions" which is in line with their 1920's furniture. The 'Cushman Colonial Creation' furniture was introduced in 1933 and had the rectangular metal tags 1933-41, stating 'Cushman Colonial Creation'. They switched to an oval plastic tag for the war years due to metal shortages. In 1946 they stated making the same oval tag out of brass, still marked 'Cushman Colonial Creation', which was used up to 1964 when they did a slight design change (still a brass oval) until 1971 and Cushman's demise. Additionally, CCC pieces are incised 'Cushman' into the wood on the bottom or back of pieces (sometimes missing, but rarely). In 35 years I've never seen a CCC with a paper label, but have seen them on many pieces from 1910-'32. Finally, the model numbering is different in the Above ad and your chair than the CCC line.

 

I think that catalog was from 1935, or at least the early 1930s. (You can go to the link and confirm, if you wish.) But I do want to point out that a manufacturer's line can carry popular styles for many years past their introduction date.

Debora

 

Yes absolutely, that's a good point. I just noticed the chair is incised "Cushman Product" as is the label (photo). The name pressed into the wood actually is a 1930's practice. They seem to have kept traditional designs after the 1933 Creations introduction. Cushman was on the verge of bankruptcy in '32 and the Creations line saved the company when sales took off. My main point is the chair and ad are not the 'Creations' line.

 

This is all very great information. Really thankful for the discussion. Just to narrow this down a bit and clarify what I think I'm reading. Since the ad is not the colonial creations line but it does say colonial in the ad and it's estimated to be between 1930 and 1935 would it be safe to assume that this may have been the introduction to what became the colonial creations line? Would this chair and the other items in the pamphlet have been the launching products that the company then realized were popular and decided to expand on those products with the colonial creations line and metal tags? Could what I have be one of the beginning pieces that may have inspired the colonial creations line? Does that seem to be right?

 

There are a number of Cushman catalogs online at the Bennington Museum web site. You can always explore earlier examples (if any are available.)

Debora

 

Thank you! I didn't realize that. I will definitely look those up.

 

Well in general Colonial furniture reproductions were very popular in the 1920's due to Sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of the country. This started to fade by the early 30's and sales for all furniture makers really suffered - and the Great depression put many out of business. As I mentioned, Cushman was in real trouble when a furniture designer named Herman Devries walked through the front door trying to sell his quirky modernist Colonial designs - many companies said 'No thanks', but Cushman said yes, hiring him. Hence the 1933 introduction of CCC line. The public loved the furniture, sales boomed and the company survived, and even thrived, staying popular up to the mid 50's when it faded. Even in the 30's makers started copying Cushman, but the quality fell short (folks today sell such pieces claiming "unmarked Cushman". . . this is false. 99% of their furniture is marked.
I started buying in the 80's when many pieces were $20. or free in many cases. I've owned about 100 pieces through the years. Here's my Woodstock model from 1941, one of the most modern looking CCC pieces offered and pretty rare. My dog even loves it !
g

 

Lovely chair!