I have run across a sideboard said to be "Stickley Brothers" . How do I verify authenticity? The piece is about four feet long with several drawers, in decent condition. What is the value of something like this?

-- claire (jstonestreet@nci2000.net), January 08, 2000

Answers

Your piece must be seen by someone specializing in Stickley, either a licensed appraiser or a representative of a known auction house. Basically, "Stickley" refers to a family of six or so brothers, who manufactured what is known as "Arts and Crafts" furniture (sometimes called "Mission" furniture, made circa 1890-1920s)in a company begun by Gustav Stickley in Eastwood, N.Y., in 1898. There are pieces by Gustav in the "Craftsman" line for the Gustav Stickley Co.; there is furniture by Albert and John George Stickley, for the Stickley Brothers Co. in Grand Rapids, Mich.; there are works by Leopold Stickley for the L. & J.G. Stickley firm (which also went under other names in the early 1900s); and then there are pieces by Roycroft, Greene & Greene, and Charles Limbert, among others, which are similar in style to Stickley....as you can see, a mistake is easy to make unless you know what you're doing. I would also suggest you make use of your local library's interlibrary loan dept., to find books about Stickley furniture and the Arts and Crafts Movement - there are some marvelous references which are too numerous to list here. Also - please browse our book reviews as well as our cover story archive on this website (www.thebee.com), as we may have something there which could help you. Good luck!

-- Liza Montgomery (liza@thebee.com), January 11, 2000.