Q: I just recently bought 6 dining chairs from my Salvation Army for $50. I wanted to know if you or your readers could tell me anything more about them. I think they could be from the Art Deco era. They have a slight curved detail to the front legs, plus the curvature in the back, as well. Also, the original batting was the old-school cotton batting. The green fabric is the original fabric, the flowery one shows how they looked when I bought them, and the red paisley is my new upholstery. Any answers about these chairs would be awesome!
Sent by Nicole
Editor: Nicole- what a great find at the thrift store! We love the lines of your new chairs, and that red paisley fabric is certainly an improvement. We hope some of our knowledgeable readers can provide additional information about the origin of your chairs. Readers, please share your insights in the comments below.
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they look 60's.
is she trying to make some money by selling them?
if not, who cares the history...if you like them...love them
I have those chairs too! I bought them at an antique store with this table and sideboard:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emily_roose/3871248879/in/set-72157621638536491/
The sideboard has the label "Saga by Broyhill Premier" in it and I'm pretty sure it was all an original set. Probably 50s-60's.
They look 50s to me because of the tapered detailing on the crossbars and the flatness of the curved back piece. The original fabric looks 50s, too.
Definitely '50's -60's, or about 30 years after the Deco movement.
I feel the same way about idle requests for furniture ID as Jayjay5-- it always smacks of a mercenary motive (um, are these by any chance valuable, hmm?).
The vast majority of secondhand furniture was mass-produced and of marginal value-- aesthetic or monetary.
Buy what you like, don't attempt futile furniture ID based only on wishful thinking, and concentrate instead on the aesthetics of good design. Once one understands what's of aesthetic value, the incidental odd 'valuable' ($) find is the inevitable byproduct.
Otherwise, it's like posting the loose change from your pocket to a coin-collecting site-- "Is this one valuable? No? Well, how about this one? Or this one?"
Like EmilyR said, those are Saga by Broyhill chairs (we have the bedroom set) and I'm pretty sure they were made sometime between 1960 and 1962.
Living in IKEA-land, I think it is kind of interesting to read where different furniture come from, even if it is massproduced. I like the thought that the furniture have a history and I am not sure that everyone wants to know just because there might be a market value.
A while back someone even posted an original ad for the furniture in question. I liked seeing how it was portrayed as supermodern and groundbreaking when it was new.
I have bought pieces of furniture before just because I liked the look, once I brought it home I was curious of its history and not interested in how much money I can get for it. Seeing this discussion actually makes me think twice about posting pictures of furniture now because I don't want someone assuming that I am only interested in how much money I can make off it.
@oshellybean - Oh, don't worry about them. I think many ATeres enjoy these posts and learning about what design elements are specific to which era/geographic location/designer, etc.
(And isn't it kind of like getting a mutt from a shelter, and being curious as to what kind of breeds it might be?)
And regarding an above comment - yes, knowing if a piece was valuable would change how I would go about revamping them.
The Salvation Army stores in the Tidewater area of Virginia would have had that set priced at $200 at the least. The clothes they price cheaply, but the furniture is a whole different story.
The chairs [with the new fabric] would be much improved if you stripped the dark walnut stain.
I don't think that interpreting someone's motives from a net question is very reliable psychologizing. It may speak more to you than to the original poster. And I have furniture that I love and purchased for nothing that I would like to know more about. Not because I want to run out and make a buck but because it adds to my enjoyment of them. And she wasn't asking for a sales valuation, she just wanted to know history. Clearly she is going to keep them, she is reupholstering them. Sheesh. Lighten up already.
And yes Jennaudrey, I agree with you. I do like seeing these questions and getting a chance to learn a bit. I've mostly felt this site was a great place for people to learn from the articles as well as from others. It feels really crappy to read someone get slammed for a reasonable question. And a question that others have asked. And a question that the editors felt was worth posting.
Again, sheesh.
Yes, these are Saga dining chairs from Broyhill. I have two arm chairs, four side chairs, a table (boat-shaped, very cool) and a sideboard with kitschy stars cut into the doors. The line was produced in the 1960s--mine was 1964. It was the American manufacturer's attempt at doing a Danish modern line--so popular then. I got my set for $300 at the DC Big Flea last year with an original brochure and purchase receipt.
Broyhill!