Comments on: Don’t Believe All That You Read

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:02:34 +0000

John,

Their are two sets on e-bay with several pics. The Stanton Hall set is item number 220812169708. The two side chairs have backs covered in material. The other set says it is a version of Stanton Hall and is item number 220714801197. I believe it has cut out backs on both the gentlemans chairs and side chairs.

Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

By: John Werry

John Werry — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 12:22:18 +0000

I would like to see them. Send me pics to info@rarevictorian.com

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:52:18 +0000

I found your article interesting. Do you know if Meeks made any Hawkins or Stanton Hall chairs which did not have solid rosewood backs? I am looking to purchase a Hawkins or Stanton Hall parlor set. I have found a Stanton Hall set but the chairs have cut-out backs covered in material rather than the solid rosewood backs. If they are original Meeks, would they be more or less valuable than his solid rosewood backed chairs? Also, any advice on where to purchase a Meeks parlor set and what is a fair price to pay would also be appreciated. Thanks

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:31:47 +0000

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, all the reference material I sourced led to Meeks, I wanted to be as confident of that attribution as possible.
Thanks again,
tom

By: RareVictorian

RareVictorian — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:41:31 +0000

Tom, my post may have been unclear, but I am saying that it is absolutely Meeks and the photos in the middle are old reference books that got it wrong – “reader beware”.

One is “Field Guide to American Victorian Furniture” by Ormsbee
The other is “American Furniture of the 19th Century” by Otto

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:04:21 +0000

Hello, could you please tell me the name of the reference material you used to call the Meeks Hawkins pattern a Belter pattern. Seems out of all auction houses, ie Neals, Cowans, Fontains and the prestigous antique shop of M S Rau’s in New Orleans all call these two patterns by Meeks. I know from personal experience that the lamination layers are much different between the two makers.
Thanks in advance.

By: Nevin

Nevin — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:42:22 +0000

Does anyone have an opinion of maker on the last two ads shown?? Pittsburgh, Boston or New York?

By: RareVictorian

RareVictorian — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:17:27 +0000

“the more I know, it seems like the less I know” – exactly how I feel, Zeke.

By: zeke

zeke — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:24:58 +0000

Great post John and it reminds me that the more I know, it seems like the less I know. My walnut tall chest of drawers has incised carving that is almost identical to that on an Allen and Brother piece, it could be Allen and Brother, but most likely not. There are many details on the chest that are very reminiscent of Daniel Pabst furniture, it could be Daniel Pabst, but most likely not. The best attribution I can personally come up with is:

“Attributed to some Philadelphia maker, perhaps, but could have been made anywhere in the United states”

I love this post about the Meeks/Belter, John, it gives us all pause when we too hastily wish to make a rather dubious attribution.

Hey I want all my furniture to be made by some famous Victorian furniture maker too, but shaky attributions are worthless.