Total Pageviews

Monday, April 3, 2017

Sikes Wooden Banker's Chair



The Sikes Chair Company was established in 1859 and operated as S. D. Sikes & Brother in Buffalo, New York. Although for a brief period of time the company moved to Pennsylvania between 1904 and 1906, the company moved back to Buffalo, New York in 1916.

The Sikes Chair Company predominantly manufactured different styles of chairs, (such as Morris chairs, rocking chairs, swivel chairs, and side chairs), but also various types of furniture items as well. Many of their furniture items were classified as being part of the Arts & Crafts movement, which was a popular furniture design movement between 1860 and 1910.

Sikes Chair Company furniture items which were influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement and/or still carry their original label are considered to be the most rare and valuable among collectors.

This wonderful, sturdy chair is style #1230, as pictured in "The Sikes Book of Office Furniture Catalog 20," published in 1939. 

Restoration of a Sikes Chair Company furniture item is recommended, but only if there is noticeable damage. However, restoring a Sikes Chair Company furniture item may decrease its value.

Monday, March 27, 2017

Quartz Crystal Cluster with Hematite




























This beautiful piece also has spots of a shiny or frosty hamatite. This specimen is from near the city of Corinto in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This cluster measures around 5.3 cm or 2-1/8-inches at its biggest. 











Blue Kyanite Crystal























Blue crystal in and on a semi-translucent quartz crystal matrix. This beautiful piece was found in Brazil. This specimen measures around 7.16cm or 2-13/16" at its biggest.








Pyrite Crystal Cluster















Entwined pyrite crystal cubes with spots of contrasting colored sphalerite in a small cluster. This specimen was found in the Huanzala Mine, Huallanca District, PeruThe overall cluster measures around 5.53cm or 2-3/16-inches at its biggest or from opposing sides.