Comments on: “Hunzinger Chair” Mystery Part III http://rarevictorian.com/2009/01/hunzinger-reseller-retailers.html The definitive Victorian antique furniture destination Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:09:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: zeke http://rarevictorian.com/2009/01/hunzinger-reseller-retailers.html/comment-page-1#comment-1329 zeke Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:52:54 +0000 http://rarevictorian.com/?p=1845#comment-1329 That's an amazing piece of research you’ve done here, John! More than anything I think it’s a wonderful illustration of how not to be too hasty in ones attributions. I’m leaning towards Woodwrights suggestions of Hunzinger not marking chairs he sold through other venders. Perhaps the design was only available or custom built for another retailer and never sold by Hunzinger himself with his brand on it. Perhaps we’ll never know, but.... I think I have to ask myself what is more important, who made the chair or its intrinsic value? It stands as a great example of Victorian design and whimsy. It’s actually very comfortable to sit in and looks really cool in our living room, oops i mean Parlour. That’s an amazing piece of research you’ve done here, John! More than anything I think it’s a wonderful illustration of how not to be too hasty in ones attributions. I’m leaning towards Woodwrights suggestions of Hunzinger not marking chairs he sold through other venders. Perhaps the design was only available or custom built for another retailer and never sold by Hunzinger himself with his brand on it. Perhaps we’ll never know, but….

I think I have to ask myself what is more important, who made the chair or its intrinsic value? It stands as a great example of Victorian design and whimsy. It’s actually very comfortable to sit in and looks really cool in our living room, oops i mean Parlour.

]]> By: renaissanceman http://rarevictorian.com/2009/01/hunzinger-reseller-retailers.html/comment-page-1#comment-1325 renaissanceman Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:06:08 +0000 http://rarevictorian.com/?p=1845#comment-1325 John - You make an important point validated though manufacturers like Hunzinger that until the 20th Century patents were repeatedly violated by firms introducing identical products or in some cases actually purchasing products and placing their own labels on those products. Enforcement of patents or infringements on patents was poorly enforced and lot of companies took advantage of the lax federal laws as the time. Hence, you have many smaller firms trying to compete with the large firms, many unsuccessfully. You see this in 19th Century silverplate, lighting, etc. I have several catalogs from the 1880s and there are Meriden pieces being sold by a St. Louis Company under their label. Renaissanceman John – You make an important point validated though manufacturers like Hunzinger that until the 20th Century patents were repeatedly violated by firms introducing identical products or in some cases actually purchasing products and placing their own labels on those products. Enforcement of patents or infringements on patents was poorly enforced and lot of companies took advantage of the lax federal laws as the time. Hence, you have many smaller firms trying to compete with the large firms, many unsuccessfully. You see this in 19th Century silverplate, lighting, etc. I have several catalogs from the 1880s and there are Meriden pieces being sold by a St. Louis Company under their label.

Renaissanceman

]]> By: PaulT http://rarevictorian.com/2009/01/hunzinger-reseller-retailers.html/comment-page-1#comment-1324 PaulT Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:34:07 +0000 http://rarevictorian.com/?p=1845#comment-1324 Thanks for the discussion. Of coarse there is another example in Harwood's book: Berkey & Gay's showroom with 3 Hunzinger chairs (see Figure 102 on page 94). There is also a different stereoview of the Berkey & Gay showroom with just one of the chairs. Paul Thanks for the discussion. Of coarse there is another example in Harwood’s book: Berkey & Gay’s showroom with 3 Hunzinger chairs (see Figure 102 on page 94). There is also a different stereoview of the Berkey & Gay showroom with just one of the chairs.

Paul

]]> By: woodwright http://rarevictorian.com/2009/01/hunzinger-reseller-retailers.html/comment-page-1#comment-1322 woodwright Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:53:16 +0000 http://rarevictorian.com/?p=1845#comment-1322 It makes me wonder if Hunzinger proudly marked the chairs he sold himself, but chairs that were made by Hunzinger but not marked were sold through other retailers that requested the chairs they purchased for resale not be marked - much the way retailers today try to keep secret their supply sources of many of their items (otherwise why go through the middleman if you can go right to the supplier and possibly cut a better deal - or buy them to resell yourself, once the source is discovered). woodwright It makes me wonder if Hunzinger proudly marked the chairs he sold himself, but chairs that were made by Hunzinger but not marked were sold through other retailers that requested the chairs they purchased for resale not be marked – much the way retailers today try to keep secret their supply sources of many of their items (otherwise why go through the middleman if you can go right to the supplier and possibly cut a better deal – or buy them to resell yourself, once the source is discovered). woodwright

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