Identifying and Valuing Stickley Furniture

The leaders in furniture of the Arts and Crafts movement, the Stickley Brothers started in Binghamton NY, then moved to Grand Rapids Michigan. There were 5 brothers in the the furniture making business they were Gustav, Albert, Leopold, Charles and John George.

They produced furniture and decorative accessories for the home.

The eldest Gustav, is regarded as the best furniture maker of the family and it is his work that commands the highest premiums. He is most famous for his "Mission Furniture". The shop marks he used for his furniture are an early red decal of a carpenter's compass and the words 'Als Ik Kan', a brand with the same, and paper labels.

The brothers Albert, George and John went to Michigan and left Charles in Binghamton, he and an uncle operated under a different name there.

After a few years John George left to join Leopold in NY and started a firm called L. and J. G. Stickley. They made Arts and Crafts furniture with an English feel. It was tagged with paper labels identifying it as Stickley Brothers, or a brass tag with the English term, 'Quaint Furniture'.

This shop first operated under the name 'Onodaga Shops.' They were in Fayetteville NY but then their pieces were obvious influences of older brother Gustav's work. Decal labels contained the words, 'Handcrafted' and 'Onodaga Shops' and the L. and J. G. initials.

As you can imagine, with most of the Stickley Brothers works being identified by labels and decals, it can be hard to identify as often those have worn or fallen off, but Gustav's brand is unmistakable once you've seen it.

There has been a huge explosion in the market in recent years for good Stickley furniture.

At auction a few years ago, I got $5500.00 plus a 10% buyers premium for a fine Gustave bookcase.

Here are some items and prices.

Gustav

China Cabinet #820, 12 pane door w/ overhang top, 63" x 36" - $8000 - 8500
Magazine Stand, Tree of Life -$900 -$1100.
Wicker Table Lamp = $2000 - 2900
Stand #642, 2 drawer over 1, $2400 - $3000
L. and J.G.

Armchair, #448, $1500 - $2000
Morris Chair, #830, open arms, 5 slat back, 40" - $1400 - $1800.
Library Table, #377, 1 drawer - $1400 - $1800
Stickley Bros.

Morris Chair, w/ hip rail, 43" - $450
Library Table, # 2896, 1 drawer, 40", $650 - $800
Umberella Stand, $225-$300.

Thanks for reading, feel free to contact me if you have any other questions about Stickley furniture.