New Perspectives on the Workshop of Gustave Stickley

Bungalow Dining Chair (no. 1289)

Gustave Stickley Company

1900-02

Stickley's use of the Gothic arch as a decorative element is particular evident in the "Bungalow" series of seating furniture he featured in the New Furniture catalog, which includes this dining chair, an armchair (no. 1289-A), and a settee (no. 1289-T). The 1902 factory inventory shows that the armchair was still being produced, and because of that this chair is given the same date range. Although the 1901 factory inventory assigned a retail value of $9.50 (with a rush seat), the method used to calculate those prices are different from Stickley's general practice. In the inventory, the wholesale price is simply doubled, whereas in the 1901 Retail Plates (and subsequent price lists) the wholesale price is multiplied by about 1.6 to achieve the retail price. As a result, it is likely that this model, with a rush seat) sold for $7.50 throughout 1901 and 1902.