help?

I tried to post some pics of a 3 piece set I have but all the files were too large.  I have no idea what I have here.  If somebody has the time to help me identify the set via email please contact me.  Thank you!
[email removed]

Johnny, here's a link to the forum FAQ which will answer some basic questions for these boards.  Specifically for pictures:

What is the maximum size for picture uploads?
There is a 500k limit to each image.  If the pictures are larger than that, you can search Google for a free picture resize site such as this one: http://www.picresize.com/

Alternatively, you can send them to me and I'll be happy to process them for you and add them to your post: [email removed]

Images attached.  Johnny, what is the history of this set (how you came about it, how prior owners came about it)?

The condition is so clean, the wood color so "un-aged", and with the lack of upholstery wear, it almost looks repro; but not recent repro.

What is under the feet (front and back) any holes for casters or are there more modern metal or plastic "feet" to protect floors?

Thank you for the fast email and reply.

It was a set that belonged to my recently passed grandmother.  She collected antiques her whole life and was a museum curator, so all of her possessions are in condition like that.  Unfortunatly we dont know anything about the origins, just like she warned us, "Listen to what I'm telling you, someday you're going to kick yourself because you won't know what anything is."  I know it has been in her formal living room for at least 30 years where the set was never really sat in or even exposed to light.  We turned over all the pieces to look for some type of manufacturing emblem but saw nothing. 

I will take pics of the legs and post them today or tomorrow.

Thanks for your time and attention!

If we are casting votes, I'll tentatively say that the set looks like it could very well be "authentic".  It is hard to tell based on the photos and, as Rare points out, this style is so widely reproduced in such similar forms that it can be difficult to be 100% confident without very close inspection. 

Presuming that it is real Victorian, then what I see here is a "medallion back" (or "cameo back" or whatever you care to call it...some focus on the word "serpentine" in their description) settee and two matching chairs.  Stylistically, they would fall into the "rococo revival" category which was really popular in the 1850s & 1860s.  The simple carvings and particular style of this set, however, usually makes me think of the late-1870s thru 1880s incarnation of the rococo revival (I kind of think of it as a "mini rococo revival revival").  Granted, some of those simpler-form medallion-backs like yours may well date to the 1860s, but, again, this design has been one of the most resilient Victorian forms that I know of...very popular, very common, and it just never dies (still reproduced today).  I don't think that the value is at all impacted by 1860s versus 1880s...this is just a matter of personal debate that I would appreciate clarification on from other Rare Victorian Community members.  Does anybody have any input here?...different opinion?...I'm keen to learn more!

I'd venture to guess that, if it is a nice & authentic set from the 1880s, you might expect to get something close to $1,000 for it in a modest retail setting.  A high-end place might put a $3,000 sticker on it, but they would probably be looking at it day-in & day-out for several years at that price.  My fair auction estimate would be around $700 for the three pieces sold as a set (give or take...I'm leaning towards $700 being on the high end though).  This might go up a bit if the wood were rosewood (it doesn't look to be rosewood though).  Upholstered pieces are criticized for being harder to sell given as that most buyers will want something in a color that matches the furnishings that they already have (and I can't really tell the condition of the upholstery here).  In short, "it all depends".  Personally, I find these settees to be very pretty.

...this is not to presume that you were looking for a value...I'm just looking to others to offer their opinions too. 

Thank you,

Jason

The fabric is certainly decades old style-wise, though in good condition.  Do the seats and backs feel like they may have horsehair stuffing, which kinda sounds like crinkling diapers when you push on it and feels kinda crunchy whereas foam rubber is silent and spongy?  As 1881 states, Rococo sets like this were made from the 1850s through to 1870s and started becoming Renaissance-ized at that time.

Rococo had re-revivals in the 1920s and the 1950s, and again as 1881 states, is still made up until now.  That is why I'm trying to dig a little on the composition as your set could have come to life in those timeframes.  Regardless of age, your grandmother having been a curator explains the condition. 

Without having the answers to these questions (casters, stuffing) yet, from the wood coloration (consistency of), the thickness of the sofa-back mouldings (they look thick), compact height of the sofa medallion leading to a larger fabric strip below the medallion, the narrowness of the chairbacks, I would say that the set could be 20th century.  I'll reserve a final take until we hear more on the leg bottoms and the stuffing.  It could go either way.

Hello 
      I have a similar loveseat.I'll post pics later this week. I've had mine for 15 yrs. & the woman I purchased it from had it for 50 or so. Mine as well lacks wear. It's been out of sun light in my daughters room with her collection of teddy bears on it.

I have not had time to get down to my grandmothers to get the pics and info I still need to produce.
This is a better explination of who she was http://www.spotlightnews.com/247/article.php?article_id=tO1200953710t4795196e3db82

I will try to get there today and get the pics.
Thanks

You'll see my sofa is similar with a like history. The women I purchased it from lived in a home museum, Belter front parlor/ Meeks rear parlor just fabulous. She stated mine was late 1870, I took her word but I don't know.
                 John

Updated pics below.

Based on your additional images and you confirming the "diaper sound" when pushing on the stuffing, I concur with 1881's analysis that this is 19th century.  Here are a few sets to compare price on that sold through (not identical, but can be used for quick comparison):

(six piece for $1,250) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160202656680&category=63567
(three piece for $650) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280191249320&category=63583

I would say yours would be around that $650 number, plus or minus.  In a retail venue (not Ebay), you could command more but wait longer to sell.

Thanks for coming by our forum

John

I can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge with me. 
Sincerly
John Serrell