Selections from an Important Private Collection

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Selections from an Important Private Collection

Presented by John Toomey Gallery



Selections from an Important Collection

Presented by John Toomey Gallery 818 North Boulevard Oak Park, Illinois 60301 (708) 383 - 5234 info@johntoomeygallery.com


Frank Lloyd Wright designed a number of these “plank” back chairs for various commissions as well as for his own residence. This example is one of over 300 designed for the executive dining room of the Larkin Building, Buffalo, New York (see photo). Larkin Building furniture consisted of metal office desks and chairs. Oak furniture was created for some of the executive rooms. Wright rarely used mahogany in his furniture. Wright’s designs for the executive dining room called for mahogany to be used for the tables and for these chairs. Few examples survived the 1950 demolition of the Larkin Building.

period photograph, Larkin Building dining room


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) dining chair mahogany Larkin Building Buffalo, New York, 1905 (demolished 1950) 15.5 in. wide x 18 in. deep x 39 in. high Provenance: Larkin Building, Buffalo, New York Private collector, New York

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alternate view

period photograph, Isabel Roberts living room


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) reclining chair birch Isabel Roberts Commission River Forest, Illinois, 1908 33.5 in. wide x 30 in. deep x 39.25 in. high Provenance: Estate of Isabel Roberts Scott Elliot, Kelmscott Gallery, Chicago, Illinois Private collector, New York John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, May 23, 1999, lot 453 Private collector 7


Browne’s Bookstore was designed in 1908 by Frank Lloyd Wright in the Fine Arts Building at 410 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Francis Fisher Browne’s dream of a successful literary salon for the elite of Chicago did not meet commercial success and closed in 1912.

period photographs, Browne’s Bookstore interior


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) high-back chair oak Browne’s Bookstore Chicago, Illinois, 1908 (demolished) 15.5 in. wide x 19.5 in. deep x 53.5 in. high Provenance: Francis Fisher Browne, thence by descent Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois (donation) John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector

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Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Browne’s Bookstore Chicago, Illinois, 1908 (demolished) 15.5 in. wide x 18.5 in. deep x 48 in. high

Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Browne’s Bookstore Chicago, Illinois, 1908 (demolished) 15.5 in. wide x 18.5 in. deep x 48 in. high

Provenance: Francis Fisher Browne, thence by descent Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois (donation) John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector

Provenance: Francis Fisher Browne, thence by descent Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois (donation) John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Browne’s Bookstore Chicago, Illinois, 1908 (demolished) 16 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 48 in. high Provenance: Francis Fisher Browne, thence by descent Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois (donation) John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector

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period photograph, Avery Coonley living room


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) leaded glass window Avery Coonley Commission Riverside, Illinois, 1907 18.5 in. wide x 27.5 in. high Provenance: Queene Ferry and Avery Coonley Subsequent owners of the home

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interior, Unity Temple


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Unity Temple Oak Park, Illinois, 1908 15 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 40.5 in. high Provenance: Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector

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chairs shown in situ


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Unity Temple Oak Park, Illinois, 1908 15 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 40.5 in. high

Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Unity Temple Oak Park, Illinois, 1908 15 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 40.5 in. high

Provenance: Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector

Provenance: Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector 17


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Unity Temple Oak Park, Illinois, 1908 15 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 40.5 in. high

Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Unity Temple Oak Park, Illinois, 1908 15 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 40.5 in. high

Provenance: Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector

Provenance: Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak Unity Temple Oak Park, Illinois, 1908 15 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 40.5 in. high Provenance: Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois John Toomey Gallery / Treadway Toomey Auctions, December 8, 2002 Private collector 19


period photograph, Usonian Exhibition House interior


Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak and plywood Usonian Exhibition House, Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1953 18 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 37 in. high details in Cherokee red executed by Plycraft Products, Port Washington, New York

Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) chair oak and plywood Usonian Exhibition House, Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1953 18 in. wide x 19 in. deep x 37 in. high painted details in Cherokee red executed by Plycraft Products, Port Washington, New York 21


alternate view


Provenance: Sotheby’s New York, December 12, 2003 Exhibited: Usonian Exhibition House, Sixty Years of Living Architecture: The Work of Frank Lloyd Wright, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, 22 October - 29 November 1953 Literature: ‘’Bechtolds Build Furniture for Wright Exhibit,’ ’ The Port Washington Reporter, October 2, 1953, p. 2 (for a discussion of the Usonian House furniture) House of Wright is Previewed Here, New York Times, October 21, 1953 (for an illustration of the chair) James Marston Fitch, ‘’This Exhibition House Symbolized Frank Lloyd Wright’s Contribution to Your Daily Life,’ ’ House Beautiful, November 1955, pp. 264-265 David A. Hanks, The Decorative Designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, New York, 1979, p. 160 (for a period illustration of the dining room) The Chairs of Frank Lloyd Wright, exh. cat., Yale University School of Architecture, 1987, n.p. David A. Hanks, Frank Lloyd Wright: Preserving an Architectural Heritage, Decorative Designs from the Domino’s Pizza Collection, New York, 1989, p. 110 (for a period illustration of the dining room) Frank Lloyd Wright: The Phoenix Papers, Volume II: The Natural Pattern of Structure, exh. cat., Herberger Center for Design Excellence, Arizona State University, Tempe, 1991, cover, frontispiece, pp. 130-131 and 136 (for a period photograph of the Usonian House dining/living room) Thomas A. Heinz, Frank Lloyd Wright: Interiors and Furniture, London, 1994, p. 213 (for a period illustration of the dining room)

For the Guggenheim Museum’s Sixty Years of Living Architecture retrospective of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work in 1953, Wright built a fully furnished ‘’Usonian House’’ and pavilion in the museum gardens. The house was described in a New York Times article as a ‘’fusion of architecture and furnishings, the blending of indoors and out.’’ The chairs offered here were designed and built specifically for the exhibition house. Wright later used the same model for the Trier House, Iowa, 1956.

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Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) leaded glass window Coonley Playhouse Riverside, Illinois, 1912 32.5 in. wide x 12.5 in. high Provenance: Los Angeles Modern Auctions, Los Angeles, California, June 1, 1997, Lot 123 Wright created 22 clerestory windows for the playhouse. Eleven were installed on the northern elevation and eleven were installed on the southern elevation. This example is believed to have come from the kitchen or “shop,� as shown on the floorplan numbered 1201.014 in the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives at Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona.


The Heritage Henredon line was designed by Wright in 1955. According to “Frank Lloyd Wright’s House Beautiful,” Maddex 2000, page 36: “At Elizabeth Gordon’s urging, Wright in 1955 developed a line of home furnishings for people who did not live in one of his houses.” The Henredon line of furniture, adorned with the “Taliesin” design, was meant to be affordable architecture for the masses.

Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon (American, 1867-1959) Morganton/High Point, North Carolina dining table, c. 1955 mahogany signed with one leaf 63 in. wide x 32 in. deep x 28.5 in. high

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Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon (American, 1867-1959) Morganton/High Point, North Carolina sideboard with shelf, c. 1955 mahogany signed with script signature 61.5 in. wide x 20 in. deep x 34 in. high overall


Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon (American, 1867-1959) Morganton/High Point, North Carolina mirror, c. 1955 mahogany 46.5 in. wide x 35 in. high

Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon (American, 1867-1959) Morganton/High Point, North Carolina coffee table, c. 1955 mahogany red monogram signature 33 in. wide x 33 in. deep x 15.5 in. high 27


Photograph from the November 1955 issue of “House Beautiful,” which was devoted to Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture and design.

Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1959) executed by Minic Custom Woodwork & Interiors weed vase mahogany, paint signed with paper label 6.5 in. wide x 6.5 in. deep x 32 in. high


Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon (American, 1867-1959) Morganton/High Point, North Carolina prototype weed vase, tall form, c. 1948 mahogany, copper liner 7 in. wide x 7 in. deep x 30 in. high Provenance: Gift from Frank Lloyd Wright to Elizabeth Gordon Norcross, editor-in-chief of House Beautiful

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period photograph, E.L. King “Rockledge� dining room

alternate view


George Washington Maher (American, 1864-1926) dining chair oak E. L. King “Rockledge� Commission Homer, Minnesota, 1912 (demolished 1987) 19 in. wide x 20.5 in. deep x 41 in. high 31


period photograph, Cordelia Culbertson interior

detail


Charles Sumner Greene (American, 1868-1957) Henry Mather Greene (American, 1870-1954) inlaid stool mahogany Cordelia Culbertson Commission Pasadena, California, c. 1911 signed 26 in. wide x 20 in. deep x 22 in. high Provenance: Cordelia Culbertson and subsequent owners of the residence San Francisco, California estate sale Christie’s New York, June 14, 1985, lot 144 Bryce Bannatyne Gallery, Venice, California

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Charles Sumner Greene (American, 1868-1957) Henry Mather Greene (American, 1870-1954) bookcase oak unsigned Adelaide Tichenor Commission Long Beach, California, c. 1904 34.5 in. wide x 10.5 in. deep x 49 in. high Provenance: Randell Makinson D.J. Puffert Auction, October 20, 1990, lot 142 Bryce Bannatyne Gallery, Venice, California


Charles Sumner Greene (American, 1868-1957) Henry Mather Greene (American, 1870-1954) hanging shelf oak Adelaide Tichenor Commission Long Beach, California, c. 1904 22 in. wide x 8.5 in. deep x 30 in. high Provenance: Randell Makinson D.J. Puffert Auction, October 20, 1990, lot 145 Bryce Bannatyne Gallery, Venice, California 35


Above images from “The Craftsman,” 1904, “Nature and Art in California,” pages 370-390, a similar fixture shown in Eaton’s personal dining room


Charles Frederick Eaton (American, 1842-1930) Elizabeth Eaton Burton (American, 1869-1937) Variation of Prometheus light fixture, c. 1902 hanging copper form with three abalone shells, lined with brass mesh signed Charles Frederick Eaton, Santa Barbara, California 25 in. diameter x 8.5 in. high Illustrated: My Santa Barbara Scrapbook: A Portrait of the Artist, Elizabeth Eaton Burton, Santa Barbara Historical Museum, 2011 The Craftsman, July 1904; a similar example pictured in Eaton’s personal dining room 37



Dirk van Erp (Dutch/American, 1860-1933) San Francisco, California table lamp copper, mica partial signature 22 in. diameter x 25 in. high Exhibited: International Arts and Crafts, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, March 17 - July 24, 2005 39


Dirk van Erp (Dutch/American, 1860-1933) San Francisco, California table lamp, red warty form, c. 1915 copper, mica signed with open box San Francisco mark 18 in. diameter x 18 in. high Dirk van Erp popularized the “red warty� finish. He used a larger hammer when forming these lamps and the patina is a deep red color.


Dirk van Erp (Dutch/American, 1860-1933) San Francisco, California table lamp, c. 1910 copper, mica ghost of D’Arcy Gaw signature 16 in. diameter x 21 in. high

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Lillian Palmer (American, 1871-1961) San Francisco, California table lamp copper, ceramic, mica unsigned 24 in. diameter x 24 in. high Palmer made a number of lamps. Some examples had simple mica shades. Others had double lined wired mesh with hand-painted designs (ca. 1920). Her bases ranged from ceramic vases by Weller and other commercial potteries to antique Chinese vases possibly supplied by customers or the design service from Gumps; a major San Francisco department store that retailed her lamps. 43


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Grueby Faience Company Boston, Massachusetts Single-tile tabouret, c. 1902 inset green matte tile, oak model no. 52-t signed with closed box decal 17 in. wide x 17 in. deep x 22 in. high early stacked stretcher


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Grueby Faience Company Boston, Massachusetts Twelve-tile table, c. 1903 inset green matte tiles, oak unsigned 24 in. wide x 20.25 in. deep x 26.25 in. high earlier form with arched apron tile top detail

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“‘The Studio’ Year-Book of Decorative Art,” 1906, page 77 shows a connection between American and European designers.

Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York designed by Harvey Ellis and LaMont Warner inlaid settle, c. 1903 oak, pewter, copper signed with red decal 77.5 in. wide x 31.5 in. deep x 30.5 in. high with three different inlaid patterns Literature: Arthur Wesley Dow: His Art and His Influence, Spanierman Gallery, 1999, page 54


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Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York inlaid table maple, with copper and wood inlay blind drawer signed with red decal and paper label 30 in. wide x 20 in. deep x 30 in. high

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Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Harvey Ellis-influenced form server mahogany, brass model no. 802 signed with red decal 42 in. wide x 18 in. deep x 39 in. high


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Harvey Ellis-influenced form sideboard mahogany, brass model no. 800 signed with red decal 54 in. wide x 21 in. deep x 42 in. high 51


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Harvey Ellis design bookcase mahogany, leaded glass model no. 702 signed with red decal 47.25 in. wide x 14 in. deep x 44 in. high


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Harvey Ellis-influenced form china cabinet mahogany, brass model no. 803 signed with red decal and remnant of paper label 36 in. wide x 15.5 in. deep x 60 in. high 53


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Harvey Ellis-influenced form chest of drawers mahogany, brass model no. 913 signed with red decal 36 in. wide x 20 in. deep x 50.5 in. high


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York music cabinet mahogany, amber glass , brass model no. 70 branded signature and paper label 19.75 in. wide x 16.5 in. deep x 47.5 in. high 55


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle armchair, circa 1904 mahogany model no. 376 signed with red decal 27.5 in. wide x 20.5 in. deep x 49 in. high

Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle armchair, circa 1904 mahogany model no. 376 signed with red decal 27.5 in. wide x 20.5 in. deep x 48.5 in. high


The spindle line of furniture was inspired by the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. Gustav Stickley’s cube chairs and settles are very similar to Wright’s 1901 designs for the Ward Willits House, Highland Park, Illinois. The furniture was patented in 1905.

Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle arm rocker, circa 1904 mahogany model no. 375 signed with red decal 27.5 in. wide x 29.5 in. deep x 44.5 in. high

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Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle table mahogany model no. 655 unsigned 36 in. wide x 24 in. deep x 29 in. high

Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle table mahogany model no. 655 signed with paper label and red decal 36 in. wide x 24 in. deep x 29 in. high

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Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Divan settle mahogany unsigned model no. 165 61.25 in. wide x 28.5 in. deep x 40.5 in. high

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Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York desk mahogany, brass model no. 720 signed with red decal, partial Eastwood paper label 38 in. wide x 23 in. deep x 37 in. high 60


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York two-drawer table mahogany model no. 641 signed with small red decal 20 in. wide x 15.5 in. deep x 30.5 in. high 61


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle Morris chair, circa 1904 oak model no. 369 black ink mark 33 in. wide x 37 in. deep x 40 in. high 62


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle Morris chair, circa 1904 oak model no. 367 signed with black ink mark 30.25 in. wide x 36.5 in. deep x 40 in. high 63


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle armchair oak model no. 390 signed with red decal 28.5 in. wide x 30.5 in. deep x 38.5 in. high 64


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle settee oak model no. 286 unsigned 47.5 in. wide x 23.5 in. deep x 49 in. high 65


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle cube chair oak model no. 391 signed with red decal 26.25 in. wide x 28 in. deep x 29 in. high

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Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York spindle cube chair oak model no. 391 signed with red decal 24 in. wide x 27.5 in. deep x 29.5 in. high

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Les Cheneaux Yacht Club, Cedarville, Michigan

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Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York Director’s table model no. 631 oak signed with red decal 96 in. wide x 47.75 in. deep x 29.5 in. high Provenance: Les Cheneaux Yacht Club, Cedarville, Michigan 69


Gustav Stickley (American, 1858-1942) Eastwood, New York table lamp model no. 504 oak, Japanese wicker shade impressed signature to base 18 in. diameter x 23 in. high

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L & JG Stickley’s Prairie line shows the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright’s furniture designs.

L & JG Stickley Leopold Stickley (American, 1869-1957) John George Stickley (American, 1871-1921) Fayetteville, New York Prairie settle, spindled form, c. 1910 oak model no. 234 unsigned 86 in. wide x 34 in. deep x 26 in. high 71


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L & JG Stickley Leopold Stickley (American, 1869-1957) John George Stickley (American, 1871-1921) Fayetteville, New York Prairie settle, paneled form, c. 1910 oak model no. 220 signed The Work of‌ 84.5 in. wide x 36.75 in. deep x 29 in. high


L & JG Stickley Leopold Stickley (American, 1869-1957) John George Stickley (American, 1871-1921) Fayetteville, New York book table oak model no. 516 signed The Work of… 27 in. wide x 27 in. deep x 29 in. high

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L & JG Stickley Leopold Stickley (American, 1869-1957) John George Stickley (American, 1871-1921) Fayetteville, New York case clock, c. 1908 oak, copper model no. 86 signed 27 in. wide x 16 in. deep x 80.5 in. high Provenance: Gustav Stickley Mrs. Robert Bonner Peter Wiles, Sr., grandson of Gustav Stickley Christie’s New York, December 10, 1988, lot 16 Hirschl & Adler Exhibited: Syracuse, New York, The Mohawk Building, The Everson Museum of Art: Syracuse Collects Arts & Crafts & Made in Syracuse Today: Contemporary Work in Wood, January 19 - March 10, 1985 Literature: “A Stickley Grandson Keeps Family Heritage Alive,” Kathleen Quigley, The New York Times, May 12, 1983 According to family legend, this clock was made for Gustav Stickley by his brother Leopold.


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L & JG Stickley Leopold Stickley (American, 1869-1957) John George Stickley (American, 1871-1921) Fayetteville, New York spindle side chairs, set of 8 (four shown) mahogany unsigned 17.75 in. wide x 17 in. deep x 41.5 in. high 76


Charles P. Limbert (American, 1854-1923) Grand Rapids, Michigan Mackintosh-influenced form bench oak model no. 243 ½ 24 in. wide x 18 in. deep x 24 in. high

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Similar examples to Limbert’s café chair, #500, and café table shown at left from Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Willow Tearooms, which opened in 1903, at 119-121 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland


Charles P. Limbert (American, 1854-1923) Grand Rapids, Michigan Mackintosh-influenced form cafĂŠ chair, #500 oak branded signature 26 in. wide x 21.5 in. deep x 34 in. high

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Charles P. Limbert (American, 1854-1923) Grand Rapids, Michigan rare Mackintosh-influenced form cafĂŠ table oak signed with early paper label, numbered 30 in. wide x 24 in. deep x 27.25 in. high 80


Charles P. Limbert (American, 1854-1923) Grand Rapids, Michigan Mackintosh-influenced form double-oval table oak branded signature 48 in. wide x 36 in. deep x 29 in. high 81


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