Posted 4 years ago
peggyann55
(14 items)
This was a typical early office chair. Many typists, telephone operators, etc. used these. Its solid wood, perhaps a pine. The hardware lends to its heavy feel more than the wood. Its fully adjustable, and the seat is designed for a butt to enjoy for long hours. I think its an amazing piece and I found it sitting at our dump. I quickly rescued it !
Good find …good for you for rescuing it!
I’m glad I don’t have to sit on it for 8 or more hours a day, 5 days a week. Ouch!
Lol. It was a little uncomfortable. I did use it for a while, then I sold it to a collector in NYC. He was doing his whole office in 1920's.
Without a closer look at its actual woodgrain, I'd guess it is made of maple, a common (and durable and beautiful) wood that was used for furniture items like it back then. *Maybe* oak, but what I can see of its grain doesn't strike me as that.
One thing is for certain -- it *ain't* made of cheap 'presswood and staples' substitutes as so many contemporary (sweatshop-produced?) furniture items are these days...it was made well by craftsmen who took pride in their work. I'm sure its new owner could see that in it, and am happy that you both rescued it then found it its new home in NYC, where I also have little doubt it is now loved and ready to serve another hundred-ish years of duty holding somebody's butt off the floor... :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
You are probably right about the wood being Maple. I often think some old furniture is oak. And I don't know why. I actually know better.
When I was a little girl, my grandparents had a buffet from about 1915 when they were young marrieds, ( I found out later what it was) and I know that it was quarter sawn oak. I used to like to run my fingers along the grain lines. I loved its gorgeous yellow orange color. So yep, I said oak when I know better . Thankfully, the buyer was no smarter than me. Lol.