Decent Furniture for Decent People

by John Werry on February 13, 2012

I’m sharing a PhD Thesis on 19th Century Canadian furniture with a special focus on manufacturer Jacques & Hay by Denise Jacques (I assume there is no coincidence there on the last name).  She is now working on a book for the University of Toronto press.

You may not have the free time to read the complete ~300pp, but you may be interested in reviewing the photos of Canadian furniture and interiors in the back of the dissertation.

leftbracket 0 comments rightbracket

Daniel M. Karcher Bookcase For William S. Auchincloss

November 29, 2011
Thumbnail image for Daniel M. Karcher Bookcase For William S. Auchincloss

It’s not often that you can definitively identify a maker for a particular piece of Victorian furniture and equally rare is identifying a piece’s original customer.  When lucky enough to have some of this information, you usually get one or the other. Although this piece is not on the “rare” end of the craftsmanship spectrum [...]

Read the full article →

“Based On The Quality of Work” And Other False Reasonings

October 17, 2011
Thumbnail image for “Based On The Quality of Work” And Other False Reasonings

There are a lot of methodologies that people use to identify a particular piece’s maker, but few of them drive me more bonkers than “based on the quality of the work it surely was made by so and so”.  Relative to what?  How is quality being defined, compared? This is probably the least scientific, most [...]

Read the full article →

No Reserve – Signed Alexander Roux Bed

September 19, 2011
Thumbnail image for No Reserve – Signed Alexander Roux Bed

You don’t come across a signed, Rosewood Alexander Roux bed for $2k that often (current price with no reserve).  It’s not an overly grandiose bed in size or sophistication of design, but the carvings are  exceptionally well done as would be expected of one of the best furniture makers in NY at the time.  The [...]

Read the full article →

George Hunzinger Receipt

September 1, 2011

I recently purchased this original George Hunzinger receipt from 1900, which is two years after George Sr’s death. Notice the “& Son” in the logo. I assume that this is an example of Hunzinger wholesaling to another furniture company, Lederer Furniture of Cleveland, Ohio.

Read the full article →