Hello AT,
I have this chair that I'm trying to find out more about. I know that it came from a church and have been told that it was a funeral chair. It's basically a solid wood chair with two independently folding seats.
Does anyone know anything else about them or if they have any value? They're in solid shape except for a few scratches. Thanks. Matt
Dear Matt, Don't you sometimes wish Google had a search function that you could put a picture into or a shape and it would tell you all about it? We don't know the answer, but we're sure someone will. Who's got an answer for Matt?
(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.)
Link To All Good Questions
Link To All Good Questions
I have seen chairs similar to this in a church I went to as a kid. They had some two-seaters like these and also sets with longer runs of seats (6-8 IIRC). I think you would find these in churches that couldn't afford pews or needed additional seating in rooms for other events (like funerals). I don't know anything about manufacture or value, though.
If you wander over to eBay and search under Antiques for folding bench, you'll find a few similarly constructed pieces under Completed Items. Problem is, the people auctioning them don't know what they are, either, though one set is attributed to Ursinus College and another fits Jeff's memory of longer sets. Other problem -- these come in lots of styles, so possibly lots of ages, as well.
I remember similar chairs from the Grange and lodge halls of the Upstate town my Gram lived in. Tremendous waves of nostalgia hit when I see them. I'd get some if I had the space.