Animal-horn chair popularity dates to 19th century

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Animal horns have been used to make furniture for centuries. Chairs, chandeliers and storage racks made in the 15th century exist in some museums. But the popularity of antlers and horns for chairs came about in the 19th century. They were made first for hunting lodges and castles for nobility, but almost all of that furniture is now known only through pictures and reports.

The arms and back of this chair are made from carefully placed cow horns creating a Victorian chair. It sold for $1,400 a few years ago, but would sell for less today.

In 1851, chairs, chests of drawers and even a sofa made of horns were exhibited at the London World Exhibition. The Tobey furniture Co. of Chicago displayed the first American horn furniture at the 1876 Exposition. The idea lost favor by 1920. Around 1990, the horn chairs were rediscovered by Western collectors.

The most famous horn-furniture maker in the U.S. – and also the most expensive today – is Wenzel Friedrich of San Antonio, which started in 1880. All of the furniture is made from cattle horns, available from the slaughter houses. The horns require little care. Some owners like to oil the parts, but most prefer to just dust and wipe with a damp cloth. Chairs are rarely marked and often misattributed, because the makers often copied each other.

A Victorian upholstered oak armchair with four cow horns as the arms and back sold in Asheville, N.C., at a Brunk auction a few years ago for $1,400. Chairs by identified makers sell for much more. The National Texas Longhorn Museum pictures many chairs and describes the unique shapes used by the makers.

Q: I was given a silver bookmark by my grandmother, who was born in Holland in the early 1890s. It was hers as a child. The bookmark was a dagger shape and would slip over the page. It was approximately 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and had a long burgundy tassel. It was stolen from my house. I’m looking for prices for insurance purposes.

A: It’s impossible to give an accurate value for your grandmother’s silver bookmark without seeing it and weighing it. Do you remember if it had a maker’s mark? Was it solid silver or silver plate? Was it heavy? Silver bookmarks sell for $30 to $80, with most of the value determined by the weight of the silver.

Current Prices

Toggle charm, Confucius, holding staff, hand-carved, boxwood, counterweight, silk cord, c. 1900, 2 x 1/2 inches, $80.

Watering can, Toleware, cream with brown and green cattails, tapered cylinder, dome base, top handle, 1800s, 10 inches, $150.

Parian doll, dancing woman, red lace dress, revolves on lead base, pull string, Germany, 9 inches, $235.

Radio, Motorola Bullet, AM, tube, turquoise blue Bakelite, gold bullet-shaped dial, c. 1957, 6 x 12 inches, $850.

TIP: Gold and silver trim on glass or ceramics will eventually wash off if cleaned in a dishwasher. Gold- and silver-trimmed glassware and ceramics should never be put in a microwave. The metallic glaze will cause electric arcing and could start a fire.

For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit www.Kovels.com.

(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.