This table being sold on September 27th by Fontaine’s is being attributed to R.J. Horner with a selling range of $6,000 to $8,000.  It is Mahogany with 4 winged griffins in the base and is heavily gadrooned.

I would float the theory that this table is not actually Horner and could instead have been made by Robert Mitchell & Co.  If you remember this confirmed Mitchell table from a few posts back, let me show you a griffin from each of these two pieces, compared:

The wings are very different but I suggest that it is merely a design variation. Overall, the rest of the body has similar proportions and carvings.

I know of someone that is trying to publish a book on Robert Mitchell and who has seen hundreds of Mitchell pieces.  I’ll float my theory their way and get the feedback posted here.

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Grand View Antiques and Auction will be having a sale on September 13th, 2008 and there are several R.J. Horner-attributed items coming up for bid.

The image to the left is the base of a table that they are attributing to Horner and what I cannot tell from the images or description is whether the leaves, which extend the table to 128″, are original and match the ends of the table.

As time passes with these antique tables, the leaves often get lost and get remade, without the side gadrooning and with mixed results on matching the original table finish and grain.

This sale also has 3 pieces of faux bamboo furniture for which Horner is about as famous for as he is for his griffin furniture.

I’m unaware of any of the pieces in this sale sporting a label to confirm their maker, but nonetheless, fans of Horner will appreciate the items regardless of the maker being Horner or not.

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Stop by the RareVictorian.com blog for an R.J. Horner-related posting. Robert Mitchell produced some furniture that is often mis-attributed to Horner. Photos and story here.

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This buffet certainly has the heft of a Horner piece and the carvings are at the level that one would expect of a Horner but it is difficult to be sure as it is unmarked. The griffins are especially detailed with the one in the bottom center displaying an unusual amount of detail in the hairs on the chest and tail as well as the feathers on the wings. There are 4 other griffins integrated into the design as well. Note the “tin-roof” type carvings in the top curved section of the cabinet (see the listing photos to view this detail).

This buffet will be sold on December 1st starting at $3,000 with an expected range of $6,000 to $8,000. More details can be seen at the listing.

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Sorry for the lapse in posts on this blog as I have been spending a lot of time getting some changes implemented over at RareVictorian.com. Running across this great Horner piece offered by Bradfords Antiques spurred me into action.

Up for auction is a Horner partner’s desk with 4 seated winged griffins. A Horner collector once told me that if a griffin piece had the “rat tail” on the griffins (which this one has), then you could be sure it was a Horner – not that you need to look at this one hard to figure out if it was a Horner. I’ll leave the details to Bradfords below, but I’ll let you know that bidding ends on the 30th and will start at $5,000 (reserve not met at that level). There are a lot more photos that I haven’t included that you can review at the listing.

THE BEST
R. J. Horner Winged Griffin
Mahogany Partners Desk

Circa 1890’s

Top of the Line Horner Standing
Winged Griffin Partners Desk

ALL ORIGINAL!

The Previous owner had the Desk
in his Family for over 100 years.

Near Mint Original Condition
Came with a Glass Top to
Protect the Finish Etc.

Four Standing Winged Griffins
Support this Heavily Carved
Partners Desk

All Ribbon Stripe Mahogany

Six Fully Relief Carved
Drawers with Carved
Pulls

Serpentine Top with Detail
Carved Bullnose

Serpentine Bottom Shelf
with Highly Carved Edge

Carved Horner Style Feet

Height: 31 inches
Length: 56 inches
Depth: 37 inches

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