Antiques & Collecting: American, Canadian chair differences

Ever see an old chair that seems different — the parts are a little more curved, the stretchers between the legs have more shape and the seat seems a little low?

The informal slat-back chairs made in Canada and what would become the United States in the 17th and early 18th centuries are often very different looking. Both countries had slat-backs, but Canada was influenced by formal French designs, made in the American colonies by the English.

The back of the Canadian chair made in the late 17th century and later had three or four double scroll slats. The American chair had three to six horizontal slats that were almost straight.

The turned arms of the Canadian chair went through the seat to the stretcher, where it ended in a point. The American chair’s arms went to the seat.

Legs that looked like a string of sausages were used in Canada, while in America, the legs were plain round or square rods, perhaps with a small foot. But the easiest clue is the seat.

A Canadian chair seat is woven splint that is 15 inches from the floor. It was made to hold a cushion that raised the seat to 16 or 17 inches, the height of an American chair seat.

At a Skinner auction in Boston, a late-18th-century Canadian chair that was painted black sold for $1,200 — more than twice the estimate.

I have an old steamer trunk made by John H. Dick, Chicago. I don’t know anything about the trunk and can’t find any information on this company.

John H. Dick was in business in Chicago and made trunks and other travel bags in the late 1880s and later. Steamship travel became popular in the late 1800s and wealthy travelers took several trunks of clothing and other items.

A steamer trunk is a flat-top trunk not more than 14 inches high that could fit under the bunk. Travelers also used larger flat-top bureau or dresser trunks, tall wardrobe trunks fitted with hangers and drawers, dome-top trunks and small trunks for special items.

Trunks by Louis Vuitton or other famous makers sell for high prices, often thousands of dollars, but more common flat-top steamer trunks sell for $10 to $50.

Current Prices

Pewter dish, overlapping leaves, handle, J. Despres, Avallon, 8 x 18 inches, $60.

Match holder, monkey, standing, dressed, butcher clothes, etched apron, kettle, 2 1/2 x 4 inches, $175.

Whiskey bottle, cut glass, flat hob star plug stopper, notched handle, ray-cut base, W.C. Anderson, 9 1/2 inches, $420.

American flag, 13 stars, Confederate southern cross, red, blue, white, 1925, 61 3/4 x 35 inches, $720.

Tip: Ultrasonic cleaners for jewelry are now sold for home use. Be careful — the vibrations can damage stones. Never use them with pearls, opals, lapis or peridot. Be very careful with costume jewelry, too, as "stones" could be real or glass, or even plastic.