How To Buy An Antique Morris Chair-3 Tips
The Morris chair is the great ancestor of what we call now as recliner chairs. Named after William Morris of the past Morris and Company, antique Morris chairs can look right at home almost anywhere – whether belonging to co-antique sets, or fitted into a room with more contemporary pieces.
As Morris chairs were first crafted during the Victorian era characterized by ornate designs and details, traditional antique Morris chairs were with curved legs, and upholstered cushions. These types are usually more valuable to have because of their originality, unique style and rarity. Some of these may have even come from the original Morris and Company workshops. As these pieces are very rare, one must exercise great care before buying one. Ebay has a nice selection of these traditional Victorian designs priced at $1500 at the cheapest. Materials used are usually oak or mahogany. Some of the chairs have claw-shaped feet, and lion heads at the armrests – typical of the Victorian era. Upholstery is satiny in nature, and has rich, deep colors. For cheaper pieces, one could check also check out Harp Gallery Antique Furniture (specializing in upholstered antique chairs and sofas) for prices around $900 per chair, and Go Antiques. Again, great care must be taken to inspect pieces thoroughly before buying.
Since maintaining upholstered chairs can be quite a hassle, later models of antique Morris chairs had removable cushions to allow more flexibility in terms of seat style and color. The focus shifted into functionality, and the chair’s structure evolved into a simpler one – with wider and flatter arms, straight legs and square slats. Some companies who made these adaptations are American Gustav Stickley and British Liberty and Company. Aside from the chair design itself, they also made the reclining mechanisms more user-friendly. These styles of antique Morris chairs are also known as ‘Mission’ style Morris chairs. eBay is a good place to scout for these. Items are usually placed at $1500, having black or brown leather cushions. Styles with slatted sides however are considerably more expensive, at $2000 - $5200 each – the price is worth it though for the lovely and comfortable form of these chairs. Aside from eBay, Club Furniture and Cottage Surroundings are also great places to look for antique Morris chairs of this type.
If you find authentic antiques too pricey for your budget, you can always opt for reproductions to have the same general aesthetic quality at lower prices. These often have lower armrests than traditional Victorian ones, and the reclining mechanisms are easier to operate, too. They are also mostly inspired by Gustav Stickley designs. Some known makers of quality reproductions of antique Morris chairs are Phil Taylor Contemporary Arts and Crafts, Voorheer Craftsman Contemporary, Black River Mission and DeWitt Woodworking. Popular forms for reproduction are usually the slant-sided one and the bow arm Morris chair. Rocker chairs are also available in the same style.
So there you have it – a few notes on antique Morris chairs both for starting collectors and antique connoisseurs seeking to expand their collections. Just keep in mind that like all antiques, the value of a Morris chair lies on its authenticity as an antique, condition, age, and workmanship. Make sure to check on these factors to guarantee that the money you shell out will be truly worth it!
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