Q: When my mother bought a house in 1940, this chair was in the cellar. It stayed in the cellar until 1960, when I got married and was given the chair. There was lots of dirt in the carvings so I had it cleaned by a cabinet maker. It’s 39 inches high by 26 inches wide by 14 inches deep. How old is it and what is it worth?
Q: When my mother bought a house in 1940, this chair was in the cellar. It stayed in the cellar until 1960, when I got married and was given the chair. There was lots of dirt in the carvings so I had it cleaned by a cabinet maker. It’s 39 inches high by 26 inches wide by 14 inches deep. How old is it and what is it worth?
A: Your chair is Renaissance Revival, an adaptation of an earlier style made in the early 1900s. The carved grotesque heads on the ends of the scrolled arms are called Romayne work. The style was popular in 17th century England. Revival chairs in good condition sell for $100 to $300.
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