Take a seat. Chairs everywhere.

I have lots of new items to unveil and I am busy working on getting some ready to go.  Here is an overview of items I have in house.   

First off, there are some modern, AS IS items I am blowing out. You can pick up or arrange a meet up local to me. These are not offered online.  You must contact me directly!

Super set from ROWE FURNITURE.  2 arm chairs and matching ottoman.  Structurally superb, no rips or tears in upholstery but it will need a good cleaning.  Priced to MOVE at $100 for all 3 pieces. 

Ethan Allen reclining wingback at matching ottoman.  Very dirty with possible sun fade but appears to be structurally sound.  $50 for the set! 

Gorgeous Queen Anne bench.  Perfect in every way!  Comfy too! $75

Next up....NEW GOODS! 

i hit a local auction last weekend and to my surprise, the local dealers were not interested in the few mid century and bohemian items there!  These are trickling in to my online markets and being cleaned up and tended to.   

Blond beech Thonet 811 arm chairs.  designed by Josef Hoffmann/Josef Franck in 1930s.  This is an early set as noted by the lack of extra leg supports that were added to later models.  Beautiful hand caned seats and backs and in fantastic condition.  I will be glueing up a few wobbly front legs (reason additional supports were added) you may periodically have to repeat this as they loosen up but an ounce of prevention will keep them stellar.  They are super lightweight, simple, yet gorgeous in design. Made in Thonet’s Czechoslovakian plant, imported by US IMPORTER Stendig and stamped, stickered accordingly. You will find Thonet’s bentwood pieces in museums all over the world as Michael Thonet devised and perfected the stream bending process.  Here’s a great chance to obtain a large matched set of these great artifacts! 

A bohemian and eclectic’s dream!   

Rattan and reed chaise. This beautiful piece is from same estate (Doctor). Not sure it’s origins but design elements are very much a replica of a Thonet No. 2 chaise.  They are typically not bamboo, however and feature cane instead of woven reed.  I will continue to research but not only is it a gorgeous piece to look at, it was used inside so is in very good condition.  A few broken reeds but no missing areas. I will spend time tacking some areas with glue as that is all that needs to be done.   

Gorgeous Knoll raw saddle leather office chair. Swivels and on casters. This leather is dreamy.  I found one chair like it online but no identification help.  It is not in Knoll’s current offerings.  I have reached out to the company so let’s hope their helpfulness is better than their Human Resources since I have applied for many jobs there in the last year and only get canned denial emails. 🤦‍♀️  

Adorable oval tall table.  This may make an appearance at my booth....need to sell the Broyhill set!!!! 

I will split these chairs from the table at this point.  I am priced at $400 local pick up.  That gets you the chairs (new upholstery), table and leaf.  You can’t beat this price for Broyhill Saga!  These splat back chairs were sold with all the Broyhill premier lines and you can add on very easily.  Why am I priced so low?  I sold the credenza off quickly and made my money on this buy.  I do not have room as my storage is jammed.  This is the one set I have that I can offer to local fans and collectors at a great price! I buy to sell retail, not wholesale.  When I can offer at a great wholesale price, I want to!  This chance does not come often. That said, my online price of $600 is still great but accounts for my fees.  Shipping this complete could be a $650 price.  Still the set will be had under value if you restore the finish. It is current in well loved/rustic condition but it’s charming. The gold linen seats are new including the foam and it is ready to use.  

You can purchase this set directly at Fleetwood Antique Mall. Come prepared to transport.  Staff will help you load it. OPEN 10-6 WED - SUN 14129 Kutztown Rd, Fleetwood, PA 19522

If you are interested in just the chairs, I can bus ship them for $150 additional.  Chairs alone $400.   

I am working on the other set of chairs I have as well.  Fabricating a new support piece as the former was missing.  Will replicate the finish on the new piece and then just need to knock a few crooked legs loose and reglue them up.  The former fixer did not use clamps. 😭  They look real nice cleaned up.  I am leaving the original upholstery alone and did repair a small hole.  I think it’s nice and if you want to hire me to redo for you I would gladly do that but trying to keep the price down and I really do love the striped fabric!  So sexy! These will be priced to move!  

My husband is working on the new piece of maple that will replace a missing rung.  It’s a great match to the original wood which is probably beech. 

Lots going on as we are in the final weeks of school and will be camping in a few weeks.  If you need me please reach out! I have weekday availability for deliveries and such.  I am stocked full of some great things right now in ALL BUDGETS!!! Please refer your friends!  I will treat them like family! 🥰

Have a great week!

XO MALISSA

Research Revisited-Harvey Probber piece

Bent Mahogany Base is held by a brass stretcher rod.  Probber did have some famous dining chairs that also utilize the brass rod and curved slats but we all know there are tons of knock offs or just plain likeness designs out there, I just really wanted to see this in print.   

Earlier this year I won a beautiful little side table with a bent wood slatted x base.  Not many turned up but the piece along with a similar magazine rack seem to get attributed to Harvey Probber.  If you know me at all, you know I never believe others when they say ‘attributed to’ and prefer to do my own research. Over the summer I was able to review a Probber catalog at the Philadelphia Athenaeum Museum, which is basically an architectural museum and library.  The small catalog was more of a brochure and did not contain the table.  I did, however, discuss what I was looking for with the librarian who recommended I check both Winterthur and Hagley in Wilmington, DE.  Both of these museums are in the realm of the DuPont family and document industrial history.  I checked Hagley’s holdings and they had 2 Probber items I could review.  Unlike most places I visit, they were able to pull them while I waited.  

***RESEARCH TIP***  Most larger libraries have off site storage and it is very important you make an appointment in advance to review something specific in the collection.  

I am not an experienced Probber dealer so I could not determine much by the construction alone.  It was obvious there was veneer used. The design was impressive and the use of the brass piece was definitely not your average look but I needed to learn more. Check out the catalogs are always a help.  Sadly, there are really no resources online for Probber and his works that I found.     I must say, after making the trip to Wilmington, I so enjoyed the perusal.  So first I looked at The Kill Collection.  It was a thin catalog that just featured pieces from this collection.  Everything in this collection is metal.  It is really lovely but not was I was looking for.  The Librarian returned with the other catalog.  This always makes me take a deep breath as I wonder if I will find my answer or go home with more questions after exhausting the 3 catalogs that are housed within 2 hours of me.  When I took a look at the tabbed hard cover bound book, I was optimistic. Where to start?  I turned to the Occassional section first. There were some side tables in the area but I did not find my table.  My heart began to sink again.  By this point, my goal was to get as much info out of this book as possible.  There were wood chip samples of the finishes offered. I also realized that Probber sold directly to the trade. That means in order to buy his furniture, you needed to be working with an interior designer or architect.  That cuts out a lot of middle America and also reminds me that these designer high end pieces will not be found easily.  

I flipped to the beginning and started to find small pieces again so my optimism returned.  And finally, I found what I was looking for.  I high fived the kids, who had reluctantly accompanied me on this trip, and sat for a bit taking it all in.   

Finish options. So cool that the sample chips were included! 

There were also plastic laminate chips of which only a white one was still intact.  I believe my top to be plastic laminate.  This particular piece and the magazine rack were not listed in the price list. Bummer.  This book was a 1957 publication, by the way.  ​

So excited I was able to authenticate this piece! I hope I get to visit the Probber catalog again in the future! His designs were fabulous and I would call him more transitional than mcm purist.  Unlike many of the lower end pieces, these are less kitschy and fun and all grace and elegance.  ​

Prior to my stop at Hagley, I visited a fabric outlet in Newark.  It was worth the stop even though most fabrics were $20 or so a yard.  I picked up 5 yards and feel like I know where I am going with that Knoll Antimott Chair now.  I often hate to commit to fabrics and colors without a buyer but intelligent me knows most people don’t have enough imagination to choose.  I wanted something colorful with a bold print.  I have 3 yards of this (yellow/blue) I want to make the cushions out of.  I also got 2 yards of another navy/turquoise/royal geometric weave.  Both fabrics are indoor/outdoor and treated for fade resistance and sun protection but feel like a standard upholstery fabric. I think they will both do great in dining chair and high use applications.  Stay tuned!  If you are interested in purchasing the Knoll Antimott chair, there is still time to dictate the details.  Reach out!  I am half way through my income tax class and still very busy.  Working on adding new listings in between homework.  Please keep your eyes to my shops so you don’t miss anything!

LOCAL?  RENTALS FOR PHOTO SHOOTS!  looking for the perfect accessory for photographing the kids? If I have a piece you’d love to borrow for a day or a few hours, let’s chat!  I know I have some friends in photography and I would love to work out some rentals for your holiday shoots!  

NEW ARRIVALS!

Awesome petite church pew bench. Only 53”! Pinterest this and see how hot they area! In a dining nook, foyer or hall, mud room and so much more!  Can work with primitive, eclectic and farmhouse looks too.  This pew came out of a church in South Jersey years ago.  The family is relocating to the west coast and leaving some things behind.  Painted, chippy finish, antiqued.   

Smalls include 2 huge glass pharmaceutical bottles, a neat pair of wood owl salt and pepper (grinder) made in India and a real clean scale.  Listings will be up soon.  Another treat for me.....that great wrap! 💕👌

Please note if you are searching for large furniture items in time for the holidays, I suggest you commit now.  Greyhound can take up to 2 months and this year has been on the longer side.  White glove shipping as well can take that long.  My uship guys are a little quicker but it really hinders on where they are in the schedule when we book them.  Pick up can be a week or two out.  I take care of all the booking and logistics for you so no worries! Let me assist you in creating a cozy home for the holidays! XO MALISSA