Early 20th century Adirondack Root Chair?
this chair is made from branches and wood planks with only the seating area planed in a primitive natural form. My guess is this was once in some rich person's mountain lodge here in the mountains of NC. The chair is exceptionally solid, I am a 6'6" 300 lb guy and I tried it out. None of the connections are visible to the naked eye, I can't tell you how it is connected together. I can't see any screws, even with a flashlight in the holes, and wonder if it is wooden pegs. If you look at the boards for the seats, they appear to be planed on one side, with the bottom side still showing a little bark and the sawed off ends of branches. There is a split in the seat plank nearest the front which does not go all the way through. Several of the branches show some splitting, but I suspect this is intentional, and the piece was designed to look that way when it was built. This thing just radiates peace and tranquility. It was filthy when I got it from an estate auction, I cleaned it only with some Murphy's oil soap. The wood is very dry and could use some oil, but I didn't want to do anything which might affect it's value. I am not a furniture expert at all. Please try to judge the condition from the photos, and request more if desired. I would love to know who made this, when, and where....What I see on google lens varies up to $4k. No markings of any kind were visible to me, but perhaps I just don't know what to look for. Note: Buck Spring Lodge, a adirondack style great camp in western NC, was owned by the Vanderbilts, was scrapped by the national park service in the late 1950's.... By all accounts it had similar furniture... could this be connected?
Ok, got a lot of these.. not sure what is important - Overall height 38", Overall width at oxbow on back, 33", Seat width 19", Seat length 18", floor to seat height 18", k
Other
Yes
Hi Leonard,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
The market for Great Camp and Adirondack furniture is strong, evidenced by recent auctions of similar property. It's quite possible the identity of the maker will go undiscovered as many of these were not signed or lack documentation proving who made them. This could certainly have connections to the Vanderbilts and Buck Spring Lodge but from the online photos, this is a bit different. Most of these grand cabins were made anywhere from the 1920s-40s, so it's a little hard, again, to pinpoint that more accurately without information.
I have expertise in root furniture and can tell you that the market appreciates - and will pay a premium for - very complicated examples, with heavily twisted boughs and elements, burled grain, etc. Your chair is not quite as complex and therefore worth less than other examples. Similar chairs that have sold recently at auction typically sell between $300 and $500.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
A primitive American Adirondack or Great Camp Root Armchair
Probably 1930s-40s
The arched peaked root crest with upturned ears over a board and root splat, the curved arms over a plank seat, raised on a root frame.
38 inches overall height; 18 inches seat height; 19 inches width of seat
CONDITION: This chair appears to be in good condition for its age, construction and use.
PROVENANCE: Unknown
$ 300-500*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
If you find out more of the history of this chair from the source you acquired it, I'd be happy to know so I can update the appraisal (and perhaps find a link to a maker). You are welcome to reach back out via a comment at any time.
Delia
Thank you. Good appraisal. Was hoping for a connection to more history, but if it's not there, I don't want it faked. Doubt I will ever find another, but this is pretty cool as it is.