With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering this wonderful antique arm chair. This chair is an excellent and well preserved example of the Arts & Crafts era when traditional craftsmanship had replaced the opulence and grandeur of the 19th century Victorian period. During the previous century the focus of most design centered around interior furniture and decorative art was placed on high style design made with extreme intricacy often from expensive materials. This left an entire class of people without anything which represented their tastes or experiences in the world. The leading pioneers of the Arts & Crafts movement in America, names revered today such as Gustav Stickley, Charles Limbert, Charles Rohlfs, and others drew inspiration from the social movement founded by William Morris in England and from craftsmen as far away as Japan. Inspiration was found from the Spanish Missions settled along Southern California and in other areas for which the tradition of furniture called "Mission Oak" first became known as.
The chair we now presently offer is a traditional example of the craftsman style which first took hold over a century ago in New York and quickly spread throughout the country. The form of the chair is defined by its high raised arms which is clearly inspired from the iconic Stickley cube chair. Believing this to be a chair produced by L & JG Stickley we examined every part of the frame but could not find any identifying marks. Elements such as the obelisk style through tenon arm construction and the gentle sweeping curve of the seat frame are indications of a top tier arts & crafts furniture manufacturer. The chair features slat style construction and a circular hole design styled into the head rail. The inclusion of stretchers around the base has guaranteed that this chair has remained strong and sturdy over time. The chair has a leather seat and is in overall excellent condition with a strong frame and wonderful antique mission brown finish. Our only condition note is an old professional restoration on the back of the chair. The chair measures 28 1/2" wide x 23" deep x 36" tall with a 17 1/2" tall seat height.
