Horner / Phoenix Furniture question

I saw this piece (first pic) on eBay a while back, tagged Horner, but it looks more Arts & Crafts than Victorian. The follow up picture is from a book on Grand Rapids makers and shows a Phoenix Furniture Co. piece with virtually the same carved features. Being more of an Arts & Crafts person I don't know much about Horner, so the question is: Was Horner also a retailer and the tag is just a store tag and the piece in the first pic was more than likely made by Phoenix Furniture? Thanks.

Hmmm, interesting. The label appears authentic and the piece is absolutely arts & crafts. It's my understanding Horner was a stand alone maker and importer of furniture until 1915? when it merged with Flint and became a retailer. That label tells me it was either made or imported by horner prior to 1915. Hopefully, other's with more informed info will stumble on your post and reply.

I just found this, Googling around; recently completed eBay piece - Arts & Crafts footstool with Horner tag:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220260945566

The Flint merger is interesting because I have lots of info on Flint both contracting and reselling Arts & Crafts, specifically both L&JG Stickley and Gustav Stickley (Flint even over-stamped Gus Stickley's shopmark with his own). One might surmise in the early 1910's or so, that Horner contracted pieces from Phoenix, saw the light about changing tastes, and got into the merger with Flint becasue he was a recognized A&C retailer of the Stickley name. Like I said, I know little about Horner and maybe some of the literature would help, but I'm fairly good  ::) with A&C.

Quartercut, yeah, that sounds very plausible. Although Horner is mostly known for his victorian furniture it appears that to stay competitive in the furniture biz he had to change when the fashion changed to mission/arts & craft. Indeed, by 1920  Stickley had to change to colonial revival with their cherry valley line as mission had gone out of fashion as well. BTW, welcome to the board.

Probably pre-1912 since they leased a 12 story loft at a different location for the retail site starting Dec 1911.  I would assume the labels would change at that point.