Carved Wood
Architectural Fragments
Lightner Bequest

An Atlantid or Telamon is a sculptured figure of a man used as a supporting pillar. There is a possibility that these are part of a large fireplace surround, very similar to others found in surviving baronial mansions from this time period.

Price: $2000 each (4 available)

This library table with its carved “mythical griffin” legs has most recently been attributed to R.H. Horner a prominent New York manufacturer. However a very similar table signed “Robert Mitchell” was found several years ago. We know that Robert Mitchell of Mitchell and Rammeslsberg in Cincinnati, Ohio not only retailed their own furniture but competing manufacturers as well, including Horner.

Price: $5000

A caryatid is a supporting column sculptured in the form of a woman. These probably came from some now demolished mansion in Chicago. By the late 19th century it became possible to purchase machine carved paneling and other architectural components with which to create the ultra luxurious caryatids are not truly a pair, they would most likely not have flanked the exterior of a portal but perhaps were used facing each other from across the interior of the same said portal.

Gift of Nancy Amato, St. Augustine, Florida

These gasoliers originally had a much longer gas pipe and glass shades held in place by 4” filters which had become the standard size.

In the Moorish Style
Brass
Lightner Bequest

The Moorish revival was just one of the many exotic revivals of the 1880s. This chandelier is one of the more restrained versions of the style. With the availability of both gas and electricity in most major cities of the late 19th century, it became feasible to purchase fixtures for your home which incorporated both. Electricity was relatively new at the time, and not thought to be totally reliable, hence it was always good to have gas as a backup. One always had to be vigilant though, making sure there were not many leaking gas lines, least causing an explosion when lighting, a not uncommon occurrence at the time.

Price: $8000

This labeled piece of furniture is typical of the type of furniture imported from Europe to furnish the homes of rich Americans in the latter part of the 19th century.

Americans on the Grand Tour often were influenced by the castles and places of Europe and purchased furniture and other decorative arts with which to recreate their own “Ancestral Home” in America.

Price: $1500

Historical interiors were all the rage in the late 19th century. Furniture of all styles and at all ranges of quality and price could be had. This couch, though more Italian in style, is not far removed from the one pictured, on the far right hand side (beneath the mirror), in the photograph of a high-end French Renaissance-style-parlor. This photograph is taken 1899 is of the home of Edward Lauterbach, 2 East 78th Street, New York.

Price: $15,000

This chair is representative of some of the best quality furniture, of the late 19th century. It’s manufacturers attempt to be more historically accurate, use of fine wood and quality construction are all indications that this was amongst the most expensive chairs of its kind.

Price: $5000

Though found more commonly in the royal places of Europe, this pair of pedestals was equally at home in the mansions of the American rich. Aspirations of grandeur and a large purse went a long way in achieving the illusion of royal lineage in the 19th century. The same might be said today.

Price: $2500 each (2 available)

This is an original chair that was used in the parlor of the original Alcazar Hotel.

Price: $1000 each

The term “sgabello” originally meant a simple hall seat or stool. With time the progression of the style changed to include a tall board to form a back and eventually carved, gilt, and parcel-gilt decoration. The best prices are those carved with arms of the patron who ordered them. Because most of this type of furniture was still being carved by hand as late as the early 20th century, even in large towns, once will notice a big difference in the carvings even between a pair of chairs.

Price: $3000

In the 19th century light, delicate furniture such as this was thought to be most appropriate for the drawing room considered the domain over which women presided. In this preserve gentility ruled. Manners, wit, and sophistication was highly prized. The beautiful form and graceful curved of this suite of furniture would convey this to those who would be privileged enough to enter this world.

Price: $15,000

Oil on Canvas

Price: $75,000

Walnut
American
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Maguire of Saint Augustine.

One piece of a suite of parlor furniture comprising a Settee, two armchairs and this side chair. Settee and armchairs with arm supports carved in the form of gargoyles. All with hoofed feet and brass or copper medallions centering the top of each crest rail. This suite of furniture needs period appropriate upholstery.

Price: $6,500

Mahogany
American or European
Lightner Bequest

Named after the 15th century monk Saint Girolamo Savonarola who is sometimes depicted seated in such a chair. Curule or X form mahogany chair who’s arms terminate in large rams heads. Decorated also with carved fruit, vines, grotesque masks, and large finials. Back section missing. Once another like it is located we will know more accurately what the back looked like and how it should be carved. If an exact match cannot be located there are enough examples of similar chairs that a close approximation can be made.

Price: $ 5000

Black Walnut
American
Donated by the St. Augustine Historical Society

The back of this chair still wears its original tufted horsehair upholstery under a layer of latter cotton upholstery. However it need to be recovered in new horsehair upholstery as the original upholstery on the seat has been replaced. The arms needs to be repaired as well.

Price: $ 1,000

Gilt Wood
American or European
Lightner Bequest

This type of chair was known to be used in the gilded age mansions of the super rich. Placed in the great and sometimes drafty halls of these homes as a comfortable and always stylish chair for the often elderly door man.

This chair needs new more appropriate upholstery.

Price: $ 2,500

See Description of entire set.

Price: $0

Oak
American

Unusual shallow carved top rail with carved grotesque atop back posts. Plain flat arms, seat, and cantilevered front uprights. Pegged construction.

Back leg broken and missing at the foot.

Price: $300

Possibly Stained Oak
American or European

Unusual folding chair with carving in the Renaissance Revival mode with elements of the Elizabethan (style) in the turned spiral stiles.

This piece needs repairs to the lower section of each of the spiral stiles and new cushions upholstered in period appropriate fabric.

Price: $500

Black Walnut
American
Gift of Mrs. Nancy Amato of Saint Augustine

This Renaissance Revival Suite of furniture has been attributed to the workshop of John Jelliff of Newark New Jersey. John Jelliff made very high quality furniture in all the popular styles of 19th century. As the century progressed many manufactures were able to turn out very stylish furniture using mass production and Jelliff was no exception. This style of furniture
is thought to have been produced after Mr. Jelliff retired from his own company c. 1875. Very similar furniture was also made by the firm of M & H Schrikeisen thus making positive attribution difficult. However, photographs of documented pieces by Jelliff including a set known to have been made for Jelliff’s own daughter are almost completely identical to ours.

Other than some finish touch ups and replacement casters for those that are missing, the only thing this set needs is pholstery. Unfortunately this high end parlor set requires documented fabric that was expensive in its day and still is.

Price: $6,500

Gilt Wood
American
Lightner Bequest

The most striking feature of this chair is the back painted panel which depicts a lady and gentleman in a pastoral setting. This type of chair was scattered through out the fashionable drawing rooms of both the rich and near rich at the turn of the last century. This chair already fragile met with an accident some years ago and needs a major restoration and reupholstery.

Price: $1,800

Walnut inlaid with mother of pearl
Middle East or Spain
Lightner Bequest

Ottoman or Moorish influenced chair inlaid overall with a combination of geometric certosina and mudejar motifs. Shaped arched backrest flanked by khan-jar form stiles, plank seat and convex and concave arched X form body extending to flat runners. This chair was part of the Moorish Style furniture which was used in the furnishing of the Gross Mansion in Chicago. Moorish furniture was very popular among the rich of the 1880. Decorators of the day, such as Louis Comfort Tiffany, were big proponents of the style. Other than a few minor inlay losses and a break under the seat where the arms and legs join, it is in very good shape.

Price: $300