Chair is old, but it's not an antique

By Treasures in Your Attic , Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson
Eagle-Tribune

Dear Helaine and Joe: Is it possible for you to give me some information on this chair and its value? My mother purchased it overseas about 65 years ago and put the needlepoint covers on it. She has now given it to me. Stamped on the frame is "Made in Italy." - J. E. B., Rotan, Texas

Dear J.E.B.: From just a quick glance at the photographs of this chair, it is fairly obvious that its origins are continental European - probably France or Italy to be a little more specific. The big question is: How old was this chair when it was purchased just before the beginning of World War II?

This armchair is Louis XV style and is in the rococo taste. This style originated in France during the mid-18th century and its popularity persists to this day. The term "rococo" is derived from the French word "rocaille," which literally means "rock-work." Rococo is characterized by curving lines, cabriole legs and naturalistic forms such as depictions of rocks, shells, fruit, acanthus leaves and flowers. In addition, other motifs such as scrolls and ribbons are found.

The particular armchair belonging to J.E.B. is known as a "fauteuil," which refers to an upholstered (or caned) armchair with an opening under the arms. It has upholstered elbows and a seat that cannot be removed. A "bergere," on the other hand, is an upholstered armchair with closed arms and a removable seat.

These chairs came in a variety of different forms and they were often used with a "canape," which has nothing whatever to do with small finger foods served at a party. A "canape" in this case is an upholstered (or caned) settee, and often these were made "en suite" with fauteuils and bergeres to make a matching set of furniture for a parlor.

To summarize, the chair in today's question is a Louis XV style fauteuil. It was made from walnut and has a padded cartouche-shaped back. It has cabriole (S-shaped) legs with flower heads cresting on the knees, a double flower carved on the curved crest rail and a floral embellishment in the center of the seat rail.

All that sounds very nice. But is this chair old?

Actually, "old" is such a vague word that it is meaningless. "Old" to one person is "new" to another. To be really old and "of the period," this piece would have to have been made more that 225 years ago and be from the 18th century.

Other people might argue that this chair is "old" if it is an "antique" - meaning that it was made more than 100 years ago. Unfortunately, this is not the case, either. The big clue is the "Made in Italy" mark on the chair, which was placed there in accordance with the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890. This law required that all items exported to the United States had to be marked with the country of origin.

In the beginning, exports were marked "France" or "England" and so forth. But in the early 20th century, the marks had to be more specific and phrases such as "Made in France" or "Made in Italy" became standard nomenclature. This chair is probably circa 1935 and was new or practically new when J.E.B.'s mother bought it. In other words, this chair is not an antique, but it does have some age.

The best thing about this chair is the beautiful needlepoint coverings, and because of these, this chair has an insurance replacement value of between $600 and $700.

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Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are the authors of the "Country Living: American Glassware - What is it? What is it Worth?" Questions can be mailed to them at P.O. Box 12208, Knoxville, TN 37912-0208.