Q: I bought this piece of furniture at a yard sale for $10. After cleaning it, I found an Arts & Crafts stamp on it. The leather upholstery has deteriorated. Please help me determine the age of the piece and its value.
A: You have a “cricket stool” made by Charles P. Limbert Co., a company founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1894. When the factory moved to Holland, Michigan, in 1906, it kept its showrooms in Grand Rapids. Since the mark on your furniture includes the names of both cities, it must have been made in 1906 or after. If your mark also includes the words “Arts & Crafts,” it was made no later than 1918. The company went out of business in 1944. An early Limbert’s catalog offers the cricket stool for $5. A cricket stool is a low stool. Value today if in good condition: about $900. Because your stool has a damaged leather top, it is worth only about $100.
