I was hoping the experts on this site could help me identify this hall tree. I have attached pictures showing some of the significant details of this hall tree.
It is missing its arms which held the umbrellas. Can anyone point me to pictures that I could use to help reproduce the appropriate arms? Does anyone have an expert who could make the arms?
It is also missing some hooks. I question whether the hooks that are there are original. Would the hooks have been wood? Again, any pictures you could point me to on this topic would be appreciated.
What is the appropriate finish for the cast iron drip pans? These were painted white, even on the underside.
Finally, should I have the marble repolished or leave it as is?
I appreciate any help any of you can give me.
Thanks,
DEK
Help identifying a walnut halltree
Archive summary
Victorian Furniture thread on victorianforum.com · started May 18, 2008 by dek · 17 posts, 18 image attachments · discussion in 2008.
I was hoping the experts on this site could help me identify this hall tree. I have attached pictures showing some of the significant details of this hall tree. It is missing its arms which held the umbrellas. Can anyone point me to pictures that I could use to help reproduce…
Sorry, Dek, can't identify a maker for your Hall Tree but it is certainly a nice one. Your images are small, dark, and due to the size, not too detailed to scrutinize your hooks, marble, etc., but here's a take at part of a reply:
Here are a few examples of how the "arms" can be designed:
http://www.bargainjohn.com/images/F100/F190BHallTreeB.jpg
http://www.hapmoore.com/images/april06/halltree.jpg
And a few more here: http://bradfordsantiques.com/Victorian_Furnture/Hallway_Entryway.htm
Once you had a design for the arms, maybe woodwright, a regular on this forum, would be able to help provide services to recreate them?
You might be able to peel through the white paint in a hidden area to see what is below on the drip trays. I'm not sure if manufacturers in those days left them au natural or painted them a particular color. Some restorers today seem to paint them flat black.
I can't see the marble well enough to see if there is anything that you need to buff out, or if you are just asking if you should repolish to liven it up. I like keeping mine as-is unless there is something distracting on the surface.
Good luck.
Here are a few examples of how the "arms" can be designed:
http://www.bargainjohn.com/images/F100/F190BHallTreeB.jpg
http://www.hapmoore.com/images/april06/halltree.jpg
And a few more here: http://bradfordsantiques.com/Victorian_Furnture/Hallway_Entryway.htm
Once you had a design for the arms, maybe woodwright, a regular on this forum, would be able to help provide services to recreate them?
You might be able to peel through the white paint in a hidden area to see what is below on the drip trays. I'm not sure if manufacturers in those days left them au natural or painted them a particular color. Some restorers today seem to paint them flat black.
I can't see the marble well enough to see if there is anything that you need to buff out, or if you are just asking if you should repolish to liven it up. I like keeping mine as-is unless there is something distracting on the surface.
Good luck.
I don't know the maker of your hall tree either, but I agree w/ Rare Vict. it is a nice one - much nicer than many of the simpler forms of hall trees that were made. You are probably aware that it is Walnut w/ Walnut Burl, Renaissance Revival in style (1860-1880). The pictures are small, distant and dark and don't show the details well. You ask if the original hooks were metal, or wood and that yours is missing some hooks. A hall tree like yours would have either had ornate metal hooks - could have been either a single hook, or a double hook (probably not just a plain/ simple metal hook) or nicely turned walnut pegs. You can tell whether yours were originally wood or metal by the hole size. If it is a smaller through hole (around 1/4") it would have been a metal hook where the threaded rod passed through, also the back side should show signs of where the nut/ washer rubbed or compressed the wood when it was tightened up. I believe yours was metal, one of the photos looked like it showed a missing hook and it looked like a small hole from a metal hook. If it originally had wooden turned pegs, the hole would be larger (1/2 - 3/4" in diameter) from a turned "tenon" on the end of the peg that would have been glued into the hole.
I can't see the hooks on yours well from the pics you show, but the silhouette looks a little plain - I would expect a fancier style hook (something like this one - see photo below).
If you are missing hooks you have a few options. #1 If yours are nice and original - have a foundry/ metal casting shop recast replacement hooks for you from one of your originals. #2 - Search ebay, the web or Architectural Salvage shops for replacement hooks that match yours (it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack - it depends on how common yours are and how lucky you are. If no luck with a search on Ebay save your search as a favorite search to keep rechecking) - or look for enough matching antique hooks to replace all of them. #3 - Replace all with nice/ good quality reproduction coat hooks. Antique hooks are preferable to repros and will help maintain it's value if they can be found.
As for the missing arms to hold the umbrellas & canes. Is there any ghost or silhouette of where the arms were attached? This can give you a clue to where/ how they were attached and at least the anchor point(s) & size/shape/ profile. The arms are usually curved and open on one end (shaped kind of like a "C" - to allow easy placement and removal of items), although sometimes they are a closed loop and items are lowered in and lifted out. I am a cabinet maker with 28 yrs experience (Custom Woodworking and Restorations - Nichols NY) I make custom cabinets and furniture & restore antiques, and can make virtually anything from wood - once a design with size, shape and all details is worked out. But it would probably be easier to have someone local to you make them and finish them to match where they can see the piece, measure and fit them to it, and have it to match color & finish. Check your yellow pages under Cabinet Makers, Antique or Furniture Repair/ Restoration, or ask your local antique dealers if they can recomend someone.
The drip pans are cast iron and would rust (from water from umbrellas) if left unpainted/ unfinished. Paint is the best protector of metal from water/ rust. I would be surprised to see these in White - a big contrast to the dark Walnut wood. I would expect a darker color - black, bronze or gold would look good - flat or satin (not gloss - too new/ shiny). A favorite finish of mine is to spray them a dark bronze - then use a gold "Rub and Buff" brand (wax based paint in a squeeze tube) on a rag to highlight the raised areas of the castings - the result looks great - like an aged polished bronze finish. If the marble is in good condition - I'd leave it, only if it's in poor condition would I consider re-polishing it. woodwright
I can't see the hooks on yours well from the pics you show, but the silhouette looks a little plain - I would expect a fancier style hook (something like this one - see photo below).
If you are missing hooks you have a few options. #1 If yours are nice and original - have a foundry/ metal casting shop recast replacement hooks for you from one of your originals. #2 - Search ebay, the web or Architectural Salvage shops for replacement hooks that match yours (it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack - it depends on how common yours are and how lucky you are. If no luck with a search on Ebay save your search as a favorite search to keep rechecking) - or look for enough matching antique hooks to replace all of them. #3 - Replace all with nice/ good quality reproduction coat hooks. Antique hooks are preferable to repros and will help maintain it's value if they can be found.
As for the missing arms to hold the umbrellas & canes. Is there any ghost or silhouette of where the arms were attached? This can give you a clue to where/ how they were attached and at least the anchor point(s) & size/shape/ profile. The arms are usually curved and open on one end (shaped kind of like a "C" - to allow easy placement and removal of items), although sometimes they are a closed loop and items are lowered in and lifted out. I am a cabinet maker with 28 yrs experience (Custom Woodworking and Restorations - Nichols NY) I make custom cabinets and furniture & restore antiques, and can make virtually anything from wood - once a design with size, shape and all details is worked out. But it would probably be easier to have someone local to you make them and finish them to match where they can see the piece, measure and fit them to it, and have it to match color & finish. Check your yellow pages under Cabinet Makers, Antique or Furniture Repair/ Restoration, or ask your local antique dealers if they can recomend someone.
The drip pans are cast iron and would rust (from water from umbrellas) if left unpainted/ unfinished. Paint is the best protector of metal from water/ rust. I would be surprised to see these in White - a big contrast to the dark Walnut wood. I would expect a darker color - black, bronze or gold would look good - flat or satin (not gloss - too new/ shiny). A favorite finish of mine is to spray them a dark bronze - then use a gold "Rub and Buff" brand (wax based paint in a squeeze tube) on a rag to highlight the raised areas of the castings - the result looks great - like an aged polished bronze finish. If the marble is in good condition - I'd leave it, only if it's in poor condition would I consider re-polishing it. woodwright
dek---
great ren rev style halltree. woodwright's comments
are always very informative and knowledgeable and
i enjoy learning from his expertise. i have a few carvings
i need reproduced and will most likely be contacting him
for help in the future. i do believe the hall tree hooks he sent pictures
of though are not really a best fit for this item. the double
hook is often reproduced and would be easy to find
although i personally refuse to use reproductions. actually,
both hooks seem to be a bit later then your piece.
if i were looking i would want to find something like the pic below.
i think this type of hook would look better if you indeed
have provisions for metallic hooks. i have a halltree of similar
design (ren revival) which has the wooden pegs woodwright describes and
if needed could send a few pics. your piece is fabulous
and has many of the design elements i personally love. the center medallion
appears to be similar to the medallion below but the pic
is dark and too fuzzy to discern for sure.
stever
great ren rev style halltree. woodwright's comments
are always very informative and knowledgeable and
i enjoy learning from his expertise. i have a few carvings
i need reproduced and will most likely be contacting him
for help in the future. i do believe the hall tree hooks he sent pictures
of though are not really a best fit for this item. the double
hook is often reproduced and would be easy to find
although i personally refuse to use reproductions. actually,
both hooks seem to be a bit later then your piece.
if i were looking i would want to find something like the pic below.
i think this type of hook would look better if you indeed
have provisions for metallic hooks. i have a halltree of similar
design (ren revival) which has the wooden pegs woodwright describes and
if needed could send a few pics. your piece is fabulous
and has many of the design elements i personally love. the center medallion
appears to be similar to the medallion below but the pic
is dark and too fuzzy to discern for sure.
stever
Sorry about the poor pictures. As you can tell, I am new at this. I tried to post larger pictures, but they were rejected for being too large. I will take a couple more pictures with better light and post them.
I was hoping the details would lead to an easy identification of the maker. The center medallion has a deeply carved curtain/drape design. There are carved faces which are difficult to describe. They have a little bit of a north wind type of look. The marble is salmon color. I have another piece with a similar shade of marble which I am pretty sure came from the Philadelphia area.
Thanks for the great advice on how to finish the drip pans. I am not familiar with the product you mentioned to rub on after they are painted bronze. Is there a website for the manufacturer?
I can tell where the arms were, as there are two screw or dowel holes that have now been filled in. I am confident that it was a C arm as opposed to a double arm and no doubt very heavy with some ornamentation.
I am located in the midwest but would certainly be interested in Woodwright recreating them. I do have one potential local person but I certainly would need to do the finishing.
If anyone could lead me to pictures of similar quality pieces, it would be very helpful.
The hooks are a real mystery. In addition to the large hole, there are two tiny holes. The current hooks have two notches which line up with those holes but no screws. It is, of course, possible that if it originally had wood pegs, someone could have created the two little screw holes when the metal hooks were added. It also seems odd that two hooks are missing.
By the way, the piece is approximately 9 1/2 feet tall and 55" wide with deep carvings.
Again, thanks for all the helpful information and I will try to post a couple more pictures of the details this weekend.
DEK
I was hoping the details would lead to an easy identification of the maker. The center medallion has a deeply carved curtain/drape design. There are carved faces which are difficult to describe. They have a little bit of a north wind type of look. The marble is salmon color. I have another piece with a similar shade of marble which I am pretty sure came from the Philadelphia area.
Thanks for the great advice on how to finish the drip pans. I am not familiar with the product you mentioned to rub on after they are painted bronze. Is there a website for the manufacturer?
I can tell where the arms were, as there are two screw or dowel holes that have now been filled in. I am confident that it was a C arm as opposed to a double arm and no doubt very heavy with some ornamentation.
I am located in the midwest but would certainly be interested in Woodwright recreating them. I do have one potential local person but I certainly would need to do the finishing.
If anyone could lead me to pictures of similar quality pieces, it would be very helpful.
The hooks are a real mystery. In addition to the large hole, there are two tiny holes. The current hooks have two notches which line up with those holes but no screws. It is, of course, possible that if it originally had wood pegs, someone could have created the two little screw holes when the metal hooks were added. It also seems odd that two hooks are missing.
By the way, the piece is approximately 9 1/2 feet tall and 55" wide with deep carvings.
Again, thanks for all the helpful information and I will try to post a couple more pictures of the details this weekend.
DEK
Rub N Buff (not Rubb & Buff as I stated earlier) is the correct name. I'm not sure if they have a website, but if you do a search on Google or any of the search engines you will find lots of online sources for it. I buy it locally from a small art supply store & from A.C. Moore (Large/ chain Arts & Crafts supply store). They have 5 different gold colors. Antique Gold & Grecian Gold are the 2 Gold colors I like best for most work. Here is a website that shows the (20) colors it is available in: http://www.antiquesupply.com/catalog/Rub_N_Buff-530-1.html It is very user friendly and I cannot say enough about the results -try it, I think you will really like it (apply by cloth/ rag - brush for small areas). Excellent for gold insized carving, gold leaf touch up, or highlighting.
To resize your photos (to make smaller to pubish) or to edit them - adjust color, lighten, crop, etc. there are many (free) online editing sites - can find by search. I like/ use picnik.com. Link: http://www.picnik.com/app#/home/welcome
Where the arms attached is there any ghost that shows the thickness, size/ shape or profile? Or has it been refinished? I can make replacement arms for you - but first need to know the exact shape, size and details. Since I cannot measure the piece or see it in person - that would be up to you to decide/ figure out (you could either send me a drawing to scale with all pertinent information radius, thickness, width, edge profile(s), etc. or beter yet/ preferably a full size/ scale drawing of the arms(can be folded up for mailing).
The hooks may have had something to keep them from spinning/ rotating - other than just a center bolt [like a burr, or small screw(s)/ eschutcheon pin(s)]. Member Stever suggested a different style hook than I posted. I did not mean to imply that the style I posted would necessarily be the best/ or proper style for your hall tree, just that the hooks should be fairly ornate and not overly simple. The (2) I showed were straight off ebay. Here is another style w/ 4 currently on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290208054948&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=290159473298&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4
A 4th option (to solve the missing hook problem) - not mention earlier would be to replace all of them with nice turned Walnut pegs - made & finished to match. I've seen ornate Renaissance Revival Hall trees w/ both metal hooks, and turned pegs. woodwright
To resize your photos (to make smaller to pubish) or to edit them - adjust color, lighten, crop, etc. there are many (free) online editing sites - can find by search. I like/ use picnik.com. Link: http://www.picnik.com/app#/home/welcome
Where the arms attached is there any ghost that shows the thickness, size/ shape or profile? Or has it been refinished? I can make replacement arms for you - but first need to know the exact shape, size and details. Since I cannot measure the piece or see it in person - that would be up to you to decide/ figure out (you could either send me a drawing to scale with all pertinent information radius, thickness, width, edge profile(s), etc. or beter yet/ preferably a full size/ scale drawing of the arms(can be folded up for mailing).
The hooks may have had something to keep them from spinning/ rotating - other than just a center bolt [like a burr, or small screw(s)/ eschutcheon pin(s)]. Member Stever suggested a different style hook than I posted. I did not mean to imply that the style I posted would necessarily be the best/ or proper style for your hall tree, just that the hooks should be fairly ornate and not overly simple. The (2) I showed were straight off ebay. Here is another style w/ 4 currently on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290208054948&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=290159473298&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4
A 4th option (to solve the missing hook problem) - not mention earlier would be to replace all of them with nice turned Walnut pegs - made & finished to match. I've seen ornate Renaissance Revival Hall trees w/ both metal hooks, and turned pegs. woodwright
I am attaching additional photos which I hope are easier to see. Based on the replies I have already received, I think the hooks are probably original. Hopefully the attached photos will help some of you confirm.
I am still hopeful that some of the viewers can point me to reference books or websites where I can locate similar hall trees so I can design the appropriate arms. There are no real ghosts present where the arms were except for the screw holes, which are located at the top of the area where the arms were. I would imagine that the radius of the arms would match the rounded bottom part of the hall tree that holds the drip pans. The arms would have been thick with, I assume, some ornamentation and possibly burled.
Thanks for all the help I have received so far. This site is a god-send for Victorian furniture enthusiasts.
DEK
I am still hopeful that some of the viewers can point me to reference books or websites where I can locate similar hall trees so I can design the appropriate arms. There are no real ghosts present where the arms were except for the screw holes, which are located at the top of the area where the arms were. I would imagine that the radius of the arms would match the rounded bottom part of the hall tree that holds the drip pans. The arms would have been thick with, I assume, some ornamentation and possibly burled.
Thanks for all the help I have received so far. This site is a god-send for Victorian furniture enthusiasts.
DEK
Much better photos. Nice carvings and details. I could see from the new photos that there are also 4 small half/ split rosettes missing under the carvings on the sides w/ the missing coat hooks too - these would be easy to duplicate if you chose to. The hooks probably are original, but a further check would be to a. See if the diameter @ the hooks bases matches the diameter of the rub marks where the 2 are missing, and b. To remove a hook and see if there is something on the back side that matches up w/ the 2 smaller holes beside the larger center hole.
To replace the missing hooks - I'd first try to search eBay (check completed listings too - they go back 30 days - sometimes you'll find what you're looking for - that did not sell - you can contact the lister to see if it's still available), do a google search for "Hall tree hooks", or "antique coat hooks", etc. It's a longshot and like looking for a needle in a haystack - but maybe you'll get lucky, or find something that is a nice compliment to yours. If you're not in a hurry you can keep rechecking the net periodically - can use the "Favorite Search" feature on ebay to keep rechecking. The surefire way to replace them with a match is to have (2) replacement hooks cast by a metal caster using one of yours to create the mold. It won't be cheap and then you have to match the finish/ patina. A guy local to me that does small custom metal castings among many other things is www.donehere.com or search for "Custom Metal Casting" on google or any search engine.
To find an image of one like yours I did a google image search @ http://images.google.com/ (will bring up pages of thumbnail images can click to enlarge) for several different searches: Carved "hall tree", Victorian "hall tree", Renaissance "Hall Tree" - saw a lot of hall trees (some very nice ones too) - but none like yours. I have a lot of books - but it would take a long time to scour them all searching. Nothing comes to mind right away. I did look @ Berkey and Gay - they show several nice ones, but nothing similar. Antiquarian Trader has some of the nicest ones I saw. (2) they have are attributed to Daniel Pabst. Link: http://www.antiquariantrader.com/ - then click on "Mirrors" on the left side of the page.
The arm thickness can be guestimated. The screw holes were probably centered on the arms - and there is a flat on the bottom of the carving or Rosette (can't see the entire detail from the pics. - only the bottom portion) where the arm probably butted into it. Measure the distance from the center of the screw holes to the flat below the carving and double it - should be the approximate thickness (ask yourself: does this number/ thickness make sense?). The radius of the arms probably matched the radius of the base. The arms may have had flared end w/ a turned button/ cap/ finial on the end or not, they probably had an edge profile (a roundover, cove, ogee, chamfer, etc.) you can take your clues from other edge profiles on the piece. I've never seen one w/ burl on the arms - but it is possible & could be done. woodwright
To replace the missing hooks - I'd first try to search eBay (check completed listings too - they go back 30 days - sometimes you'll find what you're looking for - that did not sell - you can contact the lister to see if it's still available), do a google search for "Hall tree hooks", or "antique coat hooks", etc. It's a longshot and like looking for a needle in a haystack - but maybe you'll get lucky, or find something that is a nice compliment to yours. If you're not in a hurry you can keep rechecking the net periodically - can use the "Favorite Search" feature on ebay to keep rechecking. The surefire way to replace them with a match is to have (2) replacement hooks cast by a metal caster using one of yours to create the mold. It won't be cheap and then you have to match the finish/ patina. A guy local to me that does small custom metal castings among many other things is www.donehere.com or search for "Custom Metal Casting" on google or any search engine.
To find an image of one like yours I did a google image search @ http://images.google.com/ (will bring up pages of thumbnail images can click to enlarge) for several different searches: Carved "hall tree", Victorian "hall tree", Renaissance "Hall Tree" - saw a lot of hall trees (some very nice ones too) - but none like yours. I have a lot of books - but it would take a long time to scour them all searching. Nothing comes to mind right away. I did look @ Berkey and Gay - they show several nice ones, but nothing similar. Antiquarian Trader has some of the nicest ones I saw. (2) they have are attributed to Daniel Pabst. Link: http://www.antiquariantrader.com/ - then click on "Mirrors" on the left side of the page.
The arm thickness can be guestimated. The screw holes were probably centered on the arms - and there is a flat on the bottom of the carving or Rosette (can't see the entire detail from the pics. - only the bottom portion) where the arm probably butted into it. Measure the distance from the center of the screw holes to the flat below the carving and double it - should be the approximate thickness (ask yourself: does this number/ thickness make sense?). The radius of the arms probably matched the radius of the base. The arms may have had flared end w/ a turned button/ cap/ finial on the end or not, they probably had an edge profile (a roundover, cove, ogee, chamfer, etc.) you can take your clues from other edge profiles on the piece. I've never seen one w/ burl on the arms - but it is possible & could be done. woodwright
dek - I was looking through old auction catalogs & flyer's & I found a flyer from Fontaine's Auction Gallery for a November 18th 2005 auction w/ preview pics. for a Jan 14th 2006 auction. The pictures are small (1"x2") thumbnail pictures, but it definitely shows the same hall tree as yours (Bot. RH corner of 1/14/06 auction page) - I'm certain. I didn't have a catalog or flyer for this auction w/ larger pics/ descriptions - only the preview flyer w/ small thumbnails & no description. I checked their website for past auctions - they have a link( http://www.fontainesauction.net/all-past-fontaine-auctions.htm ) and show the auction date - but no pictures. Here's their contact info & e-mail:
Fontaine's Antique Auction Gallery
1485 West Housatonic Street
Pittsfield MA 01201
United States
(413) 448-8922
[email removed] .
You could check w/ them for pictures and information maybe an old catalog from that auction w/ better pictures -or maybe a member here may have one. See if they knew or attributed it to a particular cabinetmaker. The pic is very small, and hard to make out the details, but the arms were definitely C shaped and open, the drip pans were dark colored in the picture, can't see the hooks great, but they look similar (maybe identical) to your hooks. woodwright
Fontaine's Antique Auction Gallery
1485 West Housatonic Street
Pittsfield MA 01201
United States
(413) 448-8922
[email removed] .
You could check w/ them for pictures and information maybe an old catalog from that auction w/ better pictures -or maybe a member here may have one. See if they knew or attributed it to a particular cabinetmaker. The pic is very small, and hard to make out the details, but the arms were definitely C shaped and open, the drip pans were dark colored in the picture, can't see the hooks great, but they look similar (maybe identical) to your hooks. woodwright
Woodwright:
Wow! That's awesome! Thank you very much; I will follow up with Fontaine's as soon as possible and see what information and pictures I can get. If I am able to get big enough pictures, do you think you could recreate the arms from a picture?
I will be in touch as soon as I find something out.
Thanks again,
DEK
Wow! That's awesome! Thank you very much; I will follow up with Fontaine's as soon as possible and see what information and pictures I can get. If I am able to get big enough pictures, do you think you could recreate the arms from a picture?
I will be in touch as soon as I find something out.
Thanks again,
DEK
dek, Yes, I can recreate them, but first I need to know the thickness, exact shape including the radius - match up w/ the base radius, edge profile(s), and any details (see previous posts & photos from Fontaine's to help determine these). You could possibly mock up a cardboard template and see how it looks & fits. woodwright.
I have not had any luck getting any pictures from Fontaines. They looked but could not find any. Apparently a new employee inadvertently got rid of some of their back issues of catalogues. Woodwright, could you please forward me a copy of the thumbnail picture you found? Maybe I could get it enlarged . I have lined up a local craftsman who I think can recreate the arms. Thanks for all your help.
DEK
DEK
OK I scanned the pics from the Fontaines catalogs, here is the 11/18/2005 and it's the same hall tree but you can discern very little else from the small pic.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/zekenstein/hp_scanDS_87172145457.jpg
The Jan 14th catalog pic is even smaller and worse but here it is.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/zekenstein/hp_scanDS_871721481428.jpg
It is described as:
120) Massive 9' 2' marble top halltree attr. Thomas Brooks
Sorry this is all I can come up with, it sure is a beauty though!
Zeke
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/zekenstein/hp_scanDS_87172145457.jpg
The Jan 14th catalog pic is even smaller and worse but here it is.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j285/zekenstein/hp_scanDS_871721481428.jpg
It is described as:
120) Massive 9' 2' marble top halltree attr. Thomas Brooks
Sorry this is all I can come up with, it sure is a beauty though!
Zeke
Zeke Thank you very much. From your picture can you tell if the arms are a closed circle? sure looks like the same halltree except the marble looks white. This picture tends to support my thought and hope that the hooks i have are original which will lead me to have to more made as opposed to trying to find new ones or going with wood ones. Obviously it would be nice to get a clearer picture but this sure helps a lot. Maybe i will continue to get lucky and the owner of the one bought at auction will see this eventually and contact me.This site is really amazing. Thanks again dek
Hey Dek,
As far as the marble color I think you may have had a choice of marble when you bought it from the maker.
You can see it a little better if you look at the picture on the brochure with a magnifying glass, it lost a little in the scan and I tried cleaning it up in photoshop to no avail. Problem is it's not a photo per-se, but a halftone.
At any rate, I'd be happy to send you the brochure if it helps, email me at zeke at linsner dot com
As far as the marble color I think you may have had a choice of marble when you bought it from the maker.
You can see it a little better if you look at the picture on the brochure with a magnifying glass, it lost a little in the scan and I tried cleaning it up in photoshop to no avail. Problem is it's not a photo per-se, but a halftone.
At any rate, I'd be happy to send you the brochure if it helps, email me at zeke at linsner dot com
dek, Did you ask Fontaine's if they could give you the buyers name and address or phone number? If they could provide that - you might be able to talk to the owners about details in question, or maybe get them to photograph it and e-mail you some pictures to help you out. woodwright
Yes I did ask and they declined based on confidentiality. But I may try and ask again. Maybe they could call the owner themselves and tell them what is going on and see if they mind if I contact them.
Do you have any good connections at Fontaines? I think the picture looks like the arms are either a circle or an oval that follows the shape of the base which encloses the drip pans. The Thomas Brooks attribution is interesting. Do you have any books on Thomas Brooks or can you lead me to a source for said books? I have googled his name before but didn't have any luck finding pictures of his stuff. By the way, the billiard table that was recently on E-bay and discussed on this site was in my neck of the woods. I didn't go look at it but it looked like a ton of work to me.
If there is anything anyone sees that they are interested in around here, I wold be happy to scope it out for them.
Thanks for all the help from everybody.
dek
Do you have any good connections at Fontaines? I think the picture looks like the arms are either a circle or an oval that follows the shape of the base which encloses the drip pans. The Thomas Brooks attribution is interesting. Do you have any books on Thomas Brooks or can you lead me to a source for said books? I have googled his name before but didn't have any luck finding pictures of his stuff. By the way, the billiard table that was recently on E-bay and discussed on this site was in my neck of the woods. I didn't go look at it but it looked like a ton of work to me.
If there is anything anyone sees that they are interested in around here, I wold be happy to scope it out for them.
Thanks for all the help from everybody.
dek