Chair Styles Reflect Changes in Society
Have you ever thought about your antique chair and how it is used? Chair styles have changed through the centuries as new materials added comfort and rules of acceptable posture changed.
The 18th century chair was very hard, with a wooden plank seat and a straight back that forced one to sit up straight. By Victorian times, soft upholstery was added, with a padded back and curves that allowed one to slump.
The mid-20th century chair changed dramatically because plastic could form a chair of any shape. It has been said that 75% of a person’s body weight is supported by the small part of the derriere that meets the chair seat.
Modern chair seats are made of webbing or cushions or are shaped for comfort. The legs are angled to hold a person’s weight. Never buy an antique chair without testing it for comfort. Is the seat far enough from the floor to accommodate the legs of a 6-foot-tall person? Is the back slanted at a comfortable angle? Is it too heavy to move closer to the dining-room table? Is it the proper height to use with a desk or a dining table? Be sure you like the chair’s appearance and that it blends in with your room.
*
Question: I had a set of eight Hazel-Atlas white glass mugs when I was a child. My mother got them at our local dairy. Each mug is decorated with a letter of the alphabet (A through H), an animal and a short poem. Only one of my childhood mugs has survived. I have found some of the others at garage sales, thrift shops and Internet auctions. Can you tell me anything about the company that made the glasses?
*
Answer: The Hazel Glass Co. and the Atlas Glass and Metal Co. of Washington, Pa., merged in 1902 to form the Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. Hazel-Atlas’ main office was in Wheeling, W.Va. Beginning in the 1930s, the company made several patterns of full-size children’s dishes, including alphabet mugs, tumblers and bowls. Other children’s patterns featured animals, circus scenes, nursery rhymes, Davy Crockett and Hopalong Cassidy. Some of the mugs were filled with cottage cheese, sealed with foil or cardboard tops, and sold at dairies. Hazel-Atlas was purchased by Continental Can in 1956.
*
Q My mother has a collection of Hummel figurines. I thought they were made by a company named Hummel, but she says the maker’s name is Goebel.
*
A The W. Goebel Porcelain Factory has operated a ceramics factory in Rodenthal, Germany, since 1871. Goebel makes many different kinds of ceramics, but Hummels are its most popular product.
Goebel’s Hummel figurines--earthenware sculptures of children--were introduced in 1935. They are based on the drawings of Sister Maria Innocentia (Berta) Hummel (1909-1946), a Franciscan nun.
Goebel’s Hummel figures and other Goebel products are still made.
For a listing of helpful books and publications, include a self-addressed, stamped (55 cents) envelope to Kovels, Los Angeles Times, King Features Syndicate, 235 E. 45th St., New York, NY 10017.
Current Prices
Figures are recorded from antique shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
* 1950s dress, black cotton with white polka dots, sleeveless, side pockets and zipper, $40.
* Griswold No. 8 Dutch oven, tilt-top, patented Feb. 10, 1920, iron, $80.
* Benjamin Franklin bust bank, copper tones, white metal, 1950s, 5 1/4 inches, $95.
* Mettlach stein No. 1266, three panels, drinking scenes, blue, tan and cream, inlaid lid, $155.
* Chiromagica game, carrying case with slide cover, question-and-answer sheets, by McLoughlin, circa 1870, $275.
* Goodyear Tires sign, tin, embossed words, 1920s, 12 by 22 inches, $310.
* Cowan pottery bookends, flying fish, antique green glaze, 8 1/2 by 6 inches, $550.
* Animation cel, Wendy and Peter Pan telling children a story, 1953, 7 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches, $900.
* Plail Brothers barrel chair and rocker set, Arts & Crafts, with spindles to floor, drop-in seats, chocolate-brown leather, paper label, $7,150.
