Monday 2 May 2011

My Town Monday - Going In Style - Part 2





Last week Part 1 focused on ladies clothing in 1906, available through Browns' Limited catalogue in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Today’s post covers sturdy oak furniture in styles that might suit some tastes to differ from modern contemporary styles .The furniture was touted as being stylish, best quality, well made while some pieces were massive others sported a more dainty appearance as not to appear cumbersome. Most were solid pieces of furniture. My grandfather had purchased six dining room chairs, a round oak table that had two leaves to extend it and a buffet cabinet from a similar company which he used as “settler’s effects”. These items he took by rail from Toronto to central Alberta in 1904.




1906 Hall Furniture






















This furniture was more suited for a house in town or a larger municipality, or a large prosperous land holder. Most farmers or settlers in western parts of Canada had more modest living arrangements, often a two room house which additions were added later.




Parlor Furniture with Morris Chairs






















The Parlor furniture consisted of a settee or loveseat with four variables in armchairs and chairs, some with rockers and couches. The Morris Chairs were obviously meant for the “man of the household”—nothing dainty about those massive chairs.


I have always liked the “couches” of this era: quaint pieces of furniture with embroidered velvet coverings on neat little legs with roller feet.


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Parlor Cabinets






















Intriguing pieces of furniture to display one’s collectibles with “British plate mirror”.


Book Cases and Musi Cabinets






















Most of the music cabinets were made from mahogany.






Parlor and Dining Room Chairs




















The better chairs were sturdy made from oak while kitchen chairs tended to be from another hardwood or pine.






Parlor Tables




















Those necessities in every home for plants or tea services.

I really liked some of the designs of the cabinets and hall furniture while wondering if there were manufacturers today who were able to make replicas or fashion their stock after these.

Next week is Part 3.

For other participants of My Town Monday go here.

9 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I need one of them there faintin' couches.

Leah J. Utas said...

I love some of those pieces. I don't want them as I would never use them, but that are wonderful to see.

Teresa said...

Thanks for sharing more of this catalog, Barbara. The furniture fashions are fascinating.

Cloudia said...

sounds like the Canadian SEARS catalog!





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Anonymous said...

I am going to come back later to give these last two posts and wonderful illustrations the close scrutiny they deserve.So interesting! Fashion and furniture with its workmanship gave great attention to detail then. Would love to have lived in those times for the fashions, but not the medical or dental aspects!!

Barbara Martin said...

Charles, a great place to take an afternoon nap.

Leah, my Mother had a dining room set made of oak from that period. They don't make them like that anymore.

Teresa, this was the beginning of mass production of similar furniture to cut manufacturing costs.

Barbara Martin said...

Cloudai, we do have SEARS here, but Eatons came first.

Pam, you might have liked to have been a suffragette, like my grandmother. That was when womens' rights started to turn to the better.

~ Sil in Corea said...

After he retired, my dad did upholstering and repairing furniture. About 25 years ago, he re-upholstered a 'fainting couch' almost the same as your picture for a local psychiatrist. ;-)

Barbara Martin said...

Sil, welcome. I'm pleased to know my post brought you fond memories.