Hunzinger Fancy Parlor Chair

 A stunning Hunzinger Parlor Chair/ Lovely robins egg blue upholstery with coordinating fringe, Ebonized and Gilt as well.  Rare find.

The Grand Hall: 10,000 or so stencils and we will be done!

I try not to count, as it would only drive me crazy (crazier?). Our Aesthetic Movement hall required the creation of  patterned main field, in gold of course. Fortunately, I elected to do a large sheet of about 50 flowers in the stencil, given the overall length of the wall, number of painted flowers required per sq ft, and we are somewhere slightly in the neighborhoods of 10-11 THOUSAND images !

As the first panel came together I have to admit I am pleased with the overall look. The 'bloom' of the pattern as you move by it especially at night is incredible and I can imagine how this might have looked back in the day with the hall lit by FIVE gaslights (we found where each one was located on the ceiling) Our plan is three lights but we are adding some wall sconces in the hall so we have flexibility as to how much light the hall needs at any given time.

With the ebonized trim we know the wainscot would be dark as well as the wainscot was always Painted darker to 'anchor' the room, was wood or sometimes marble. Well, we could not afford marble, so I elected to do a stylized marblization over the black paint and this gives it a depth and reflective quality that elevates the room to a higher level.

Of course its a looonnng hall and lots to do but its some progress. But of course an inlaid hardwood floor will be a necessity WHICH will be another project.

Parlor Settee with History

I am always fascinated about how history gets from point "A to B". We acquired this settee a while back in rather deplorable condition from an antique dealer in Southern Indiana. As is often the case it has sat for a while until we could get around to reupholster and get it to showroom floor. In this case we have had this for about 3 years and just couldn't get around to with the move and all.

Usually these pieces have been redone several times over their lives and this one was no exception. At least this one still retained its original; springs and had never suffered the indignity of being painted. Upholstery  usually involved removing several layers ( same here) but its rare to find a manufacturers label.

Imagine my surprise when under the padded arm I located the original Label. The piece was manufactured by the Northwest Parlor Suit Company. 387-701 Cybourn Ave, Chicago Illinois.
Northwest was a big concern started by a very ambitions your man as we found doing some research

"The factory and office of this company are located at Nos. 687 to 701 Clybourn avenue and 28 to 36 A street. The main building is 40x212 feet in dimensions and four stories high. It is fitted up in hands as a representative one, while personally Mr. Payne affords an admirable example of the self-made man. At the early age of seventeen, with creditable self-reliance ."

Interesting to note: even though this was a factory piece it is made of walnut everywhere . Even the supports and blocks , normally made of lesser woods  is walnut.  So  this was either an ordered piece or over the years had make a 200 mile trip to where we  found it. We may never know all the history but its nice to know its an interesting tidbit out there.

For the restoration of this fine settee, we selected a silk blend Blue and golden damask. It is  a very "high style fabric" and would have been best suited for limited use in the formal parlor of  a home. The fabric is complimented by the back done in a solid and the entire piece has  a lovely light French blue gimp

America's 100th Birthday: Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition 1876

The Centennial Exhibition, was the first major "World's fair" to be held in the United States. The  Philadelphia Centennial opened on May 10th 1876 on a 285 acre tract of Fairmount park overlooking the Schuylkill River. The expansive Fairgrounds were designed by a 27 year old German immigrant Hermann J. Schwarzmann. The exhibition was host to 37 nations and numerous international exhibits housed in over 250 individual pavilions.

 Ohio house

Naturally the states at the time were well represented and Ohio was no different. Amazingly the Ohio House is the only state building left from the Centennial Exposition! The building was empty for years before its careful restoration by the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust. The exterior stone work features 21 different Ohio sandstones with inscriptions indicating the quarries from which they came.

I'll take 10 of everything! Imagine the availability!

For those of us into Victorian design, it would have been an incredible opportunity to have a time machine. Imagine be able to see booth after booth of everything Victorian such as this incredible display of register grates by one manufacturer.

Look closely and you might see some familiar tile designs from Dayton street mansions

Even legendary manufacturers like Minton were on display. One must wonder if wealthy Cincinnatians from Dayton Street perused the Minton booth for the latest "update' for their mansions.

As far as furniture was concerned Renaissance Revival was king of the show and American manufacturers displayed their finest wares. It is also interesting to note that we see the first examples of what would later become the Arts and crafts movement first exhibited here too.

Americas up close exposure to exotic lands seen at this show started a number of revival crazes including Egyptian Revival, Moorish Revival and  the Japanesque styles. If you were around during the bi centennial in 1976 you no doubt saw just about everything in a 'bicentennial edition" the centennial was no different, there were books and magazines and illustration put out about the exhibition. many of the wealthy commissioned special sets of parlor furniture, sideboards sprouted patriotic themes like flags and eagles. The 'fad' was short lived so few examples remain.

Walnut renaissance furniture was in its heyday during the Centennial but you won't find eagle crested chairs in your typical antique mall these days.

Of course we have ways to get the rare of the rare, including this rare pair of carved eagle crested parlor chairs. We haven't been able to 'attribute' this piece, its is similar in size and style to Jelliff and Herter Bros but it could also be one of  the several fine east coast furniture designers.

The carvers art is apparent in the detail shot.

The typical Female figural form that one might expect on a piece like this is replaced with the eagle head carving, Obviously not a high production piece of furniture and one might expect to see this as part of a larger formal parlor set which if intact would be VERY valuable.

This might also be found in the Gentleman's Parlor as well. The price on this rare pair of chairs is 950.00 for the set and you are not likely to run across another pair. If you are interested please contact us at victiques@gmail.com if you'd like to own this rare pair of renaissance 'centennial' chairs.