...to be or not to be Belter

Hello Everyone,

I recently purchased a partial suite (4 pieces) of furniture from a local antique shop. Several tradespeople/designers have suggested that the pieces may be Belter. I am not sure where to look for a signature now that the pieces have been stripped and restored. Also, I note that there is not the typical laminated backs that I have seen on other Belter pieces. Any thoughts?

sunnyp7

Also, I tried using the online picture size reduction and easycapture, yet the file appears too large. Please help, so I can post a couple photos for you to view.
Thank you!

Posting the larger pics.  This set is not Belter, in my opinion:
1. They don't look to have a laminated construction (which tended to be his norm)
2. Belter ebonized rarely
3. Caster wheels appear to be wood (he used brass)
4. Belter would have carved something into the knees (flowers, etc.) when the backs were more ornate
5. Are the backs wood?  It doesn't appear so as Belter's would have been
6. Detail in the crest carving is not on par with Belter (compare with photo 3 here: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6303118)
7. Belter's skirt carvings were not simple as this one is.  See the skirt detail photo on the link above, photo #5.
8. ... there's more, but that should be enough

This set is also not Meeks or even New York in my opinion.  That said, it is a very attractive set and will look great when the upholstery job is finished.

Thank you for taking the time to look at the pictures and to provide your opinion. I had viewed the same liveauction website in trying to determine what type of fabric to use on the suite and that is where I noted the laminated backs, which my set does not have. You are correct the castors are wooden and the set is ebonized. I agree that it will look lovely once I find some nice damask fabric and a good upholsterer.
Many Thanks again!
sunnyp7

Hello All,

I have had some very detailed responses to my posts. Thank you to the Administrator and Mr. Michael for your input. I am wondering if anyone can identify possibly the period for this set. The antique shop suggested 1850. Mr. Michael suggested that the maker could be Hinkle. Any other possibilities I wonder. I could not find a lot of information about this maker through internet searches, perhaps I am not using the correct search keywords...

sunnyp7

Could we get a nice, up-close photo of the rose/flower details at the top/back of the chair?  I agree that it isn't Belter or Meeks...and I agree that it might be Hinkle <sp?>...but I would not be too quick to rule out Galusha.

I have some unwanted opinions to offer here too.  I have a preference for button-tufting (diamond button tufting, if you will) on the chair backs (the front-side of the backs, so to speak).  This always seems to add a nice touch...the lack of the buttons always looks a bit cheap or lazy to me.  Again, this is a personal preference.

The damask that you have selected looks very nice.  My other "personal preference" would be to go with what was more likely original to the set...horsehair (or "haircloth").  There are two retail suppliers that I am aware of (excluding possible sources in China).  Their links are below.  I have requested samples from the folks at John Boyd...they seem to be nice folks.  My color of choice...black.

- Jason

http://www.johnboydtextiles.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.horsehairfabrics.com/

Dear 1881Victorian:

Thank you for your suggestion of the maker Galusha. After searching some pictures, I would agree with your recommendation. I like tufting for the chair backs, which is likely appropriate to the period style. The green fabric was used for another piece of furniture, a shield back settee. I am still looking for damask fabric for the suite, so thank you for the website references. I have sent some close-up photos to the administrator as I am having difficulty attaching them here.

Regards,
Sunnyp7 :)

I'm not sure if you have seen the pictures posted here in the forum (link below), but I think that your flower carvings and leg details are the same as what I have on my set (yours being significantly higher-end than mine).  I have no proof that my settee & chairs are the work of Elijah Galusha's shop, but that is my best-guess/hunch so far.  The frames of my set are black walnut (Galusha is better known for rosewood pieces, I think) with no lamination.  The upholstery is original black haircloth...a little too original in that my ex-wife's dog shredded the settee's seat a few years before we divorced.  I haven't been able to find a replacement fabric with sufficient "width" (the horsehair stuff available today comes in widths limited to around 26" or so. 

http://victorianforum.com/index.php?topic=25.0

I'd be curious to hear from the woodworkers on the forum if they think that the style of the carved flowers are indicative of the same shop or if anybody/everybody would end up making these same carvings if they set out to carve a flower.

- Jason

Additional photos

Same flowers.

My money is on Elijah Galusha.  I have $1 here that goes to whoever can prove otherwise  :)

- Jason

I like a challenge  :)

This source photo is from Rensselaer County Historical Society and I enlarged and enhanced as best can be done from a 31 kb gif file.

Next time I'm in Troy, NY I'll try to get permission to get some really sharp photos of the chair for all our reference.  Galusha deserves some coverage on Rare Vic and there aren't any good photos out there on the web.  Anyone live near Troy???

Be sure to compare carving details comprehensively such as the c-scrolls, arm design, feet shape, skirt, etc.  I would not bet on flowers alone.

I can't "prove otherwise" to claim the $1, but with some more Galusha photos we can someday do a comprehensive comparison.

John

Yay!...maybe we can get some concrete guidance on what is & isn't a Galusha.

There is another nice little picture in  the book American art: history and culture By Wayne Craven (link below to books.google -- not sure if it will work from here).  See page 196.  Also linked here.

Another sofa here --> http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/treasures/treasureFull.cfm?object=3613&imageFormat=2

- Jason

http://books.google.com/books?id=MO5SJdnJnBMC&pg=PA195&lpg=PA195&dq=chairs+%22elijah+galusha%22&source=bl&ots=4piqe0Z5HN&sig=cwQGhmnaa2_A9SySwQCOeIWy6Vs&hl=en&ei=pk6MSrb2H4r-M--f1M0P&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#v=onepage&q=chairs%20%22elijah%20galusha%22&f=false

Wow, I think we've generated some lively discussion around Galusha furniture. I think Jason you will keep your $1. I appreciate all the links and ideas you provided. Thank you to the Administrator for helping me to post additional photos. I had already written to the museum in Troy about sending a close-up photo of their Galusha furniture, but alas no response yet. If I am lucky and they send me some pixs, I will post them here.

I may purchase the book to learn more about this furniture maker.

My friend Dean Goldstone who is a period lampshade restorer/maker gave me a link to another fabric choice that I wanted to share because they seemed to have a wide selection of beautiful upholstery fabrics.

http://www.designdivafabrics.com/products-details.php?prod_id=2952

I am still thinking of options horsehair/silk/velvet...I am not sure where to go with the upholstery.

Thank you again for all the input,
Sunnyp7

Thank you for the fabric link    :) .  I have been having a hard time selecting fabric for window treatments in the parlor, so I am always keen to look over more samples.

I suspect that I may be nearly alone in being a proponent of horsehair upholstery fabric.  I have only seen it on original pieces and the occasional restored museum piece.  If you were fixing your pieces for a quick resale (like "flipping" a house--which I suspect that you are not doing with your set) you should probably avoid the horsehair.  On the up-side, horsehair seems to be one of the more durable options--ought to last a century--and they make it in all sorts of colors and patterns.  Just beware the width issue if you opt to do this...it may no longer be possible to fit a single-width of fabric across the seat of the couch (where the fabric width equals the depth, front-to-back, of the seat).  The fabric can be seamed together & all, but that might mess with the look a bit. 

- Jason

Hi Jason,

No problem, as to material, there is a fabric district in Hamilton & Toronto, Ontario. In Hamilton it is on Ottawa Street and in Toronto it is on Queen Street, but having looked already many times since November when I purchased the set, I have decided to widen my search. However, the Hamilton district area has lots of fabric that I have not yet fully explored...You are correct the settee requires 60-65" railroaded fabric, which is almost impossible to find. I did find 110" width at Designer Fabrics in Toronto, which I assume is for curtains, but it is upholstery weight fabric not to my taste. I really do not want to have seams in the settee...Yes, I do not have any intention of selling the set. I am investigating a competent upholsterer in my area.
Regards,
Sunnyp7

Hello All,

I enjoyed reading about Gordie's furniture attribution today. It was interesting to see the comparison between the known piece and Gordie's chair. Fascinating!

Today I searched out a family photo of my maternal great grandmother to use as my profile picture, which is more in keeping with the theme of this forum. The modern avatar picture did not seem to fit somehow.

Regards,
Sonya (a.k.a. Sunnyp7)

Hello All:

A brief update about my suite of furniture. I have had two experts review my furniture pictures: Mr. Werry and a museum curator and both have confirmed that the suite is not Galusha. I am hoping to receive permission to post some Galusha photos that I will receive from the curator on the Rare Victorian website for others to review and to use as comparisons for their furniture pieces. However, the curator suggested that the pieces may not be American and while I was reviewing the pieces and looking very carefully for paper labels or incised marks, I located some letters carved in the front of the settee. I did some internet searching and found a maker called Ambrose Heal who may be another possible maker of the set. He was an English furniture maker in the 1800s. What I have learned from this process is that furniture identification requires many sources for identification: experts, the internet, reference texts, photographs, and so on. Thank you to everyone for all of their efforts and input to date. I feel excited to start on another search avenue, although a little worried as each search leads to a dead end and then another beginning. Perhaps, the end will never arrive, but the search is interesting nevertheless…
Sonya