There may be little data available on furniture maker

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 6, 2004 | by Helaine Fendelman

Dear Helaine and Joe: I received this bedroom suite from my aunt, who does not know its history before she received it from her sister- in-law at the end of the 1940s or the beginning of the 1950s.

The pieces are marked as having been made by "Western Lincoln Furn. Co., Chicago, Illinois." After an extensive search, I have not been able to find out anything about this company. Any information you might have would be appreciated. -- V.C., St. Paul Park, Minn.

Dear V.C.: When this partial bedroom suite came into the possession of V.C.'s family around 1950, it was not very old. There is no question of this dating because the style of these pieces conclusively indicates that they were manufactured circa 1925.

This type of furniture was turned out by any number of midrange companies and then retailed in furniture stores across the United States -- and probably Canada. The fact that they are marked provides a tantalizing clue to their exact origins, but, unfortunately, we could not find this company listed among the thousands of furniture makers that worked in the United States during the past 100 years or so.

We tried all the published sources and did an Internet search and found nothing. This could mean any number of things -- such as the company was short-lived or it may have been a subsidiary of a larger firm. Whatever the reason, this maker is flying under the collector radar at the present, and there may be very little information out there to be gleaned.

V.C. might try contacting the Chicago Historical Society because it may be the only organization that may have meaningful information about the elusive "Western Lincoln Furniture Co." It should be understood that any information found will be of historical significance and will not greatly affect the monetary value of this set at this time.

The pieces in today's question are in an attractive "Renaissance" style with flambeau legs, half-column sides and decorative panels that have raised leaf scroll tendrils. The veneers on these pieces appear to be walnut and maple, and the base wood is probably something like gumwood.

The set currently consists of a dresser with a triptych-style mirror that has etched decorations on the edges, a chest of drawers with three deep drawers and two shallow ones, and a bed (we do not know the size but are assuming it is a double). We feel certain that, at one time, there was at least one bedside table -- perhaps two, and probably a vanity dresser with a bench that would have completed the suite.

As a general rule, however, these pieces would have been sold separately, so the original owner may have bought just what he or she wanted and not the entire set. In any event, the value of this set for insurance replacement purposes is between $1,800 and $2,000 if all the pieces are in excellent condition.

Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are the authors of "Price It Yourself" (HarperResource, $19.95). Questions can by mailed to them at P.O. Box 12208, Knoxville, TN 37912-0208.