What is Eastlake Furniture?
Charles Locke Eastlake (Charles Locke Eastlake was the English architect and writer.)
Pieces of furniture in this style had low relief carvings, incised lines, moldings, geometric ornaments, and flat surfaces that were easy to keep clean. Also known under the name Cottage Furniture, the mass-produced pieces were much more affordable than the fanciful revival pieces. Hints on Household Taste, Eastlake encouraged "honesty" in construction and finishing. He called for hand crafted, solid wood furniture with rectangular joinery. He condemned the practice of using stains and varnishes to disguise inexpensive woods, calling instead for oiled, naturally colored finishes. Eastlake Style furniture is frequently seen in antique shops all over the United States, but especially in the east and Midwest. It was manufactured by factories in the east that had branch offices in Midwest cities. Carpenters also made pieces of furniture from patterns in this style for their homes and for customers. The style differed from the original concept of Charles Eastlake; some versions were more ornately carved and others were minimally incised, perhaps having only reeding and chamfered corners. The concept of simple, affordable, attractive cottage furniture survived.
Appraiser:
Mary Zavilla has been an active antiques dealer for over 25 years now and she owns and operates a store in Pennsylvania. She has been doing appraisal work since 1993. She also displays at shows in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York and keeps herself on top of all of the current market trends and pricing.
She is currently a candidate member of the American Society of Appraisers. Mary teaches two classes on appraising at Lehigh Carbon Community College
Her Appraisal:
Your set is done in the Eastlake style of furniture. This style of furniture is classified as a Modern Gothic style. The style is designed with rectilinear forms and modest decorations. The style was poplar during the late 1800s. Your set is C. 1890's. The settee and chairs are in very good condition as far as the frame is concerned. However the upholstery is in poor condition. The carvings on the set are true Eastlake design. A fair market value is $ 800.00. A replacement value is $ 1200.00
* Current Fair Market Value is the amount someone might receive when selling their item to a dealer or at auction. It is also the amount most government tax agencies (IRS, Revenue Canada, Inland Revenue, etc.) recognize as the tax deductible amount were the item donated to a charitable organization.
** Replacement Cost is the retail amount one might reasonably pay to purchase the item from a dealer, gallery, store, etc. It is also the amount for which one may want to insure an item.
