Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Hunzinger Mirror?


This is the first mirror I have ever seen attributed to Hunzinger. Obviously no stamp. It does have cute little turnings though....

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Hunzinger "Styled" Rocker


No stamp on this rocker, but it is definitly similar to other pieces by Hunzinger. The only thing I would question is the placement of the cross-brace. In this piece, the cross-brace appears to be there just for looks & to hold up the arm rests as opposed to being the front legs of the chair.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Hunzinger Stool?


This really cool stool was listed on eBay as being made by Hunzinger. No stamp was noted or any other documentation provided. Regardless of it's origin, it is a very nice piece.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Hunzinger Platform Rocker




This platform rocker based on the 1876 patent looks to be in prime condition. It was listed on eBay with these pictures:

Monday, December 11, 2006

Reclining Chair - 1866 Patent


This is a great peice on eBay and a perfect example of how not to upholster your fine 140 year-old antique Hunzinger folding chair. That patern looks like a cross between a lawn chair from Lowes and a needlepoint of letuce and rotten tomatos. I'll try to update this in a day or so with the sale price.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Lollipop Rocker


This must have been one of his most well liked designs for rockers and chairs. This one is advertized as being constructed of maple.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

US Patent 30823 - Dec 4, 1860


One of Hunzinger's earliest patents is for this extension table. US Patent 30823 - Dec 4, 1860.

Friday, December 08, 2006

U.S. Patent 371758 - Oct 18, 1887


This is Hunzinger's U.S. Patent 371758. It is dated Oct 18, 1887. This is some sort of folding bed. Great to have around when family comes over.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Patent Number 624812 - May 9, 1899


This chair was patented after George Hunzinger died by his hiers. According to the patent, it was his design. This odd shaped chair has wide platform arms that fold down to the sides. The patent is dated: May 9, 1899. It is US Patent Number 624812.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Antiques by Lise Bohm

Antiques by Lise Bohm has a section for Hunzinger furniture on their website. There are many pieces of the furniture for sale there along with pictures. Most of the pieces appear to be in superb condition. Check it out here.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Hunzinger? Not so much...


This chair is listed on an antique website as being attributed to Hunzinger... I'm not convinced. Not much here that matches up with his other furniture. I won't believe it until I see a patent or a stamp for this model chair. This is part of a set listed for $9500.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Lollipop Platform Rocker


This Hunzinger platform rocker has the lollipops that are featured on several models of his chairs. The rocker is using the patented spring system. This piece is listed on eBay for starting bid of $750.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Stamped 1869 Rocker



This Hunzinger rocker is stamped: Mar 30, 1869. This date is for the 88297 patent. This uses conventional rockers with the cross brace for the legs. Starting bid on eBay $500. Buy it now price $950.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Superb Chair...


Check out this incredible chair. Obviously of Hunzinger design, this one is stamped and is listed on eBay for $600. I'll try to post an update with it's final price.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Folding Stool


This is something I have not seen before - a folding stool atributed to Hunzinger. No date stamp is shown. Nor is a patent mark indicated. But the style is fairly similar to his other work. It is listing on eBay - starting bid $150.00.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Folding Chair - 1866

Hunzinger folding chair. Feb 6, 1866. Stamped. This piece was listed on eBay with a starting bid at $499. Seller claims original fabric. Unsold as of yet.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Hunzinger Chair?



This chair was listed on eBay as being a Hunzinger. I'm not totally convinced. Other than having brass casters, there does not seem to be anything remotely similar to his other furniture. The seller did not show images of a Hunzinger mark. The piece sold for $600 at a live auction.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Folding Chair

This Hunzinger folding chair is marked as being designed on the Feb 6, 1866 Patent. It is listed on GoAntiques.com for $1295.


Sunday, November 19, 2006

Another Patent - May 9, 99


Christa found this Hunzinger patent tag on a piece listed on eBay. I'll be looking it up soon... only 499 patents awarded that day... may take a while to look through.
UPDATE: I found it! U.S. Patent No. 624812

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Folding Chair


This Hunzinger folding chair was recently listed on a live eBay auction. We placed an absentee bid on it, but did not win. We were somewhat surprised that the piece went for $250 as it appeared to be in very poor shape. The people who listed it indicated that the chair was stamped: Hunzinger Pat. May 19, 1870.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Book


The Furniture of George Hunzinger: Invention and Innovation in Nineteenth-Century America

By Barry Harwood

This is the only text I can find soley dedicated to Hunzinger's furniture. It was part of an exibition at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Unfortunately, you can't get any more copies from there any longer. So if you are looking for one, you will have to get it second hand. The lowest price I could find for the text was $190. I'll probably get one sometime... hopefully I can find someone that is not selling it for that much.

Monday, November 13, 2006

The Mother-Lode - Excerpts from Harwood's Book

I found an Antique auction house that published several selections from Harwood's book on Hunzinger. As the book is no longer avaiable, these are the only pages I have been able to actually view. Here is the link.
http://www.flomatonantiqueauction.com/hunzinger.htm

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Hunzinger folding chair - 1873

This signed Hunzinger folding chair sold for $250 on an eBay auction this week. I suspect it would have gone for more except for the very poor condition of the aphostery. According to the seller, there is a Patent marked: May 19, 1870. However, I checked that date and found that no patents were issued on that date. Possibly it was mis-read...
UPDATE: This appears to be under the Patent 138892 - May 13, 1873

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Another patent date found: Feb 13, 1894

I found another patent date stamped in the caster that was on my rocker. The date is: Feb 13, 1894. There are only 479 patents that were issued that day... this whole patent searching thing will take some time....

Friday, November 10, 2006

US Pat. 88297 - March 30, 1869


This is George Hunzinger's patent for an improved chair. The patent date is March 30, 1869. The patent number is 88297.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Platform Rocker



Another Hunzinger platform rocker. This one is neat in that it has some sort of embossed leather back. You can also clearly see the patented spring mechanism. Very cool.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Lollipop Platform Rocker


Hunzinger evidently did a lot of these turned pieces with a round top. They are frequently listed for sale as lollipop chairs or rockers. This one is on the platform rocker base.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Hunzinger Standard Rocker


This is a modified lollipop rocking chair on a conventional rocker base. It listed for $899, but did not sell. I suspect it was overpriced. Probably would have sold for $250 as there were several screws missing and the finish was quite worn. Or it could be the awful fabric that someone put on it.

Hunzinger Folding Chair





This signed-stamped chair went for $149 on eBay. This is probably low for the piece as it is stamped and the finish appears in good condition. There was only one bidder. Notice the carvings at the top.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Thursday, November 02, 2006

US Pat. 52416


This is George Hunzinger's patent for a reclining chair. The patent date is Feb 6, 1866. The patent number is 52416.

Floor Rocker


This is a rare Hunzinger floor rocker. It is easily identified by the lollipop spindles that he used on many of his rockers. This peice also has a stamp as well.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Round Table


Here is an excellent example of Hunzinger's unique designs. Where other manufactures might use a 4-sided base made of two pieces of wood, Hunziner crafts his base out of 3 oddly shaped spindles. I would have loved to have this one... Unfortunately, this sold for way out of my price range.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Pair of Chairs

This pair of Hunzinger chairs sold in an eBay auction today for $9,500.


Wednesday, October 18, 2006

A Hunzinger Stamp

Hunzinger was pretty proud of his work and made sure people knew who made it. A significant number of his pieces will still have the stamp of it's maker. Here is an imprint from the back of a chair.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Merklen Bench

This particular bench was listed on eBay as being a Merklen/Hunzinger bench. It looks more like a Merklen piece as it has the brass claw feet and does not share many of the elements of other Hunzinger pieces such as angled braces. This bench went for $1,400.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Why Refinish?

When I mention that I refinish antique furniture, many people say, "Don't do that, it will reduce the value!" And they are right... if the piece is already in good shape. The two Hunzinger chairs we have purchased have been in horrible shape. Mine in particular appears to have been left in a moldy basement for many years. In this case, the value of the piece has already reached rock bottom... it has nowhere to go but up. This pic is from the eBay listing...

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Hunzinger's Angled Brace

One of the most distinctive features on many of Hunzinger's chairs is an angled brace which acts as the front legs. You can see it on this selection of chairs.