Comments on: The Real Hitchcock Chair: How to Tell Originals from Reproductions

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 02:08:55 +0000

Hi I was hoping you might be able to tell me the value of a stool in great condition still has the origanal tag the tag says it was approved july 3,1926, then approved again in 1923, then again in April 24,1929. Any help would be greatful.
Thank you,
Angela

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:20:53 +0000

I acquired a “Hitchcock” 2 drawer/3door hutch base unit. I question the authenticity of the piece. It does not have the construction quality of our other Hitchcock pieces. For starters, the drawer joints are not dovetail. At they are blind dato’s and stapled by pneumatic stapler.

Both the door and drawer front bottom edges are not rabbeted as the sides and tops are. The door and drawer bottoms are edged to match the other door/drawer edges but are cut to slide into the the opening above the bottom stiles. Also the bottom edge of the doors and drawers are not finished to the quality of the other edges.

The drawer bottoms are oak veneered masonite board. This is true for the cabinet back also. The drawer bottoms are dato’ed into the drawer sides but the cabinet back is stapled in a rabbeted grove with pneumatic brads.

The pear leafing on the outer two doors looks authentic to others I viewed on various Hitchcock web sites, likewise the leafing around the two drawer pulls. The piece also has the Hitchcock label (with the backwards “N”‘s) on the back edge of the top.

Do you believe this is authentic or a fraud? I fear it is not what it appears to be.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:20:33 +0000

Fred,

Do you believe this is authentic or a fraud? I fear it is not what it appears to be.

Thank you,
Tim

By: Bill Urdanick

Bill Urdanick — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 22:34:47 +0000

Fred,

Bill again about the Hitchcock(?) chairs. I take it from your history of the Hitchcock chair that any chair made prior to his name appearing on the chair is a Sherton type chair. Who gets the credit for chairs of his style without his labled name?

Thanks,
Bill

By: Lynne

Lynne — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:07:02 +0000

Fred:

Thank you for the intel a while back about Hitchcock chairs. It took a couple months or so, but I did sell the set of 4 for $200, which means I not only got the table I really wanted for nothing, but made a profit to boot! What a pleasant surprise.

Thank you again.

Regards-

Lynne

By: Fred Taylor

Fred Taylor — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:48:55 +0000

Mary – In today’s market Hitchcock loveseats (benches) sell at auction in the $100-$200 range. Here is one that sold yesterday for $100.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8820819

I don’t have any idea what they sold for new.
Thanks for posting.

Fred Taylor

By: mary schwendeman

mary schwendeman — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:23:14 +0000

Hi- I just purchased a loveseat in an antique store – with the backward N’s and the copyright symobol… After I got home I read about Hitchcock furniture being made up to 2006. How much would a new loveseat have sold for in 2006? I feel sick that I shelled out $300 for this love seat if if it’s not really worth that much:( Please if you have an opinion, I’d like to hear it.
Thanks! Mary

By: Suzanne Kennedy

Suzanne Kennedy — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:40:50 +0000

I am confused because I have 2 chairs that I bought in 1987 that have the parenthetical (R), but they have the CONN with the ‘N’s’ going the right way.

I have earlier reproductions from the 1960s that have the backwards ‘N’ with a circle (R).

By: Lynne

Lynne — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:24:52 +0000

Fred:

Thanks for your note, but I am confused. Where is the pic of the 2 that sold for $100 in Jan? Since I bought 4, should I start around $200 or should I start a bit lower? These 4 seem to be in very good condition, possibly better. I will know more when I inspect them much more closely. Only picked them up at 9pm last night. Would it be helpful if I take a pic and include it?

Thanks again

Lynne

By: Fred Taylor

Fred Taylor — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:05:48 +0000

Bill – Hitchcock chairs are versions of Sheraton style “fancy” chairs from the early 1800s. There were no Hitchcock style chairs made in the 1700s. The dealer was just “sales talking” with no facts on the subject.

If you can send me some clear digital photos of the chairs I will be happy to tell you what I can. You can send clear photos to me as .jpg files at info@furnituredetective.com. (No camera phone or Blackberry photos please.) Please send the photos directly to me as .jpg files. DO NOT put them in an online photo album. Be sure to include a copy of your original inquiry so I can match them up or I will not respond.
Thanks

Fred Taylor
“HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE”
http://www.furnituredetective.com
info@furnituredetective.com

By: Fred Taylor

Fred Taylor — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:01:25 +0000

Lynne – Modern Hitchcock repros sell at auction in the $25 – $50- each range. Here is a pair that sold for $100 in January 2010.

Condition and style of course are also major factors in the sale price.

Thanks for posting.

Fred Taylor
info@furnituredetective.com

By: Lynne

Lynne — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:37:27 +0000

That was an interesting history. Thank you. So how does one determine the value of a reproduction chair with solid seats? I just purchased a set of 4 that came with a table? The table is not a Hitchcock piece. I only paid $36 for all 5 pieces, so it is OK if they aren’t worth much… If you can email me a quick opinion, that would be much appreciated.

Thanks again.

Regards-

Lynne

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:59:01 +0000

Fred,

Let me know you thought via Email

Bill

By: Bill Urdanick

Bill Urdanick — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:56:52 +0000

Fred,

I need some help…. my wife and I purchased 4 matching Hitchcock chairs 10 years ago from a antique dealer in Deposit NY. We paid $2400

They are all original and never have been finished some wear.

The dealer picked them up at an auction in Mass and claimed they were made in the 1700′s.

The only markings are a W or a M written on the underside of the seat. The back has 4 spindles with gold trim, the two side spindles are thumb with 2 gold S’s on each side. the back has two stenciled flowers with a gold vertical line on each side. The seat has a tulip cut around the perimeter with gold . The seat also looks like it was stained then about one inch of the top from back to front stain was removed. The stain under I believe is ocher. Gold trim is also on the hand turned legs. There is no Hitchcock logo on the back as you mentioned in your article.

I believe perhaps these chairs were made prior to Hitchcock placing his hallmark of the back seat. Can I have you opinion please?

Bill Urdanick

By: Jo Ann Donegan

Jo Ann Donegan — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:09:27 +0000

I have 10 Hitchcokc Ladderback chairs, purchased at the Riverton,Conn. factory between 1969 and 1985…all of them blue and in perfect condition. Could I get an estimate of their value?

By: Tillie Tanner

Tillie Tanner — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:20:17 +0000

Mr. Taylor, I have always wondered about Hitchcock chairs and how to tell how old they are and if they are the “real thing”. Thanks for providing such valuable information in an easy-to-read fashion. I love reading what you write but this is the first time I have left a comment.