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Colonial Revival --with fins.

14 years ago

Check out this Cushman Colonial Creations sofa, the unusual arm in particular:



All I could think of is 1959 and 1960 when after the pinnacle of the vertical tail fin was reached, they started to flop over and became rather ungainly and overwrought

Comments (29)

  • 14 years ago

    Man, that is a great spot to place a cocktail!

  • 14 years ago

    Nini804 - That's exactly what I was thinking!

  • 14 years ago

    The knob. I don't mind the wings/built-in end tables one bit. But the knob!!!

  • 14 years ago

    It's interesting that they had to do Both. That is what is overwrought.

  • 14 years ago

    The arms must be the kid/cat/dog perch. I like the fancy fins.

  • 14 years ago

    Love it! Looks like the elderly aunt with the underarm jiggle. (Oh wait ... that's me. Never mind.) Seriously though, pieces like this evoke fond memories for me. I grew up in a house decorated in "Early American" style and even though it's probably considered cheesy these days, I must admit that I really like a lot of it.

  • 14 years ago

    I think it was a takeoff on a winthrop chair and a jefferson-designed writing chair mashedup with the 50'saesthetic. The horizontal fins appeared on cars in the '59 model year. The 58 chevy had diagonal fins.
    Casey

  • 14 years ago

    Awwwww. . . I have a Cushman Colonial chair that I just adore. It's like that mutt puppy whose ears are a bit too long, or whose legs are a bit too short, but is adorable, nonetheless.

  • 14 years ago

    jakabedy I like your chair a lot -- almost mission-y with the simple, large expanses of wood and the construction. The hearts are just endearing : )

    But the furniture in the background -- is that *your* house? I'm just not able to square it with the architecture. Unless you've moved.

  • 14 years ago

    fly -

    That's the old house: the monstrous, glorious 1925 tile-roofed Mediterranean bungalow in the 'hood. It's the only picture I had of the little chair.

  • 14 years ago

    Ah! My sense of jakabedy is restored : ) I'd love to see a pic of the outside of that fascinating-sounding house sometime...maybe another thread, just so as not to hijack?

  • PRO
    14 years ago

    Ever since someone (cooperbailey?) posted their Cushman redo a year or two ago, I have grown fond of the stuff. It just screams good old honest hard working furniture.

    It might also be my sometimes fickle decorating heart which behaves like the dog in Up when seeing something fresh to the eye. Squirrel!

  • 14 years ago

    I was just checking out the Maine Craigslist and look at this tank-like chair that was there. They actually have a pair of them. Does this 'style' have a name, other than rugged? Boy, they look heavy!

    Here is a link that might be useful: 2 Rustic Wooden Arm Chairs

  • 14 years ago

    To me that chair is from a different era of overwrought Neo-baroqueness or rococoness: one that is not quite long enough past for me to embrace yet.
    {{!gwi}}

  • 14 years ago

    OOh. Continental? I guess I still want one of those after all.

  • 14 years ago

    My favorite Lincolns are the 1956-57 Mark II, and the 1961 Continental 4-door. Purposefully understated.

    The one that I linked to is an extreme rarity, one of 5-6 convertibles produced. To think a car that looked this simple was put out in 1956-57, when vulgarity in car design was the norm. . .There are always sedans for sale, so I can at least fantasize.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Mark II

  • 14 years ago

    Pal! You have posted a picture of the loveseat in our den, with a few tiny differences! Never thought I'd see another one like it. Ours is two cushions wide. Its arms are much narrower, less than half the width of yours, and without the "flaired fins". The front skirt is straight, no scallops, and there are richly turned stretchers running all around the bottom. The wood, color, and frame - with slats in the back and webbing beneath the cushions are identical. Where would I look to find the maker's name on mine?

    I inherited our loveseat from my mother, who bought it during the 50s in Michigan's U.P., for their summer cabin. It has worn like iron. DH has been plopping down on it, all 200 lbs of him, to watch TV in the evening for 25 years. I keep waiting for the webbing to give or a slat to come loose, but no, this loveseat is determined to outlive us and probably to go on and on for DGS. Thanks for this thread!

  • 14 years ago

    You sillies! The knob is to hold on to while you heft yourself out of the seat after consuming a big-gulp sized gin and tonic that the flared armrest accommodates so nicely.

  • 14 years ago

    Pal, your wonderful comparisons of furniture and cars are amazing and amusing, and very enjoyable!

  • 14 years ago

    When I saw the subject, I thought thread this would be about colonial planter's chairs. Gin and tonic is right!

  • 14 years ago

    Oh my! Is that an original TV Dinner Chair?!? How exciting to come home after an outing, knowing a wholesome, pre-made dinner of meat byproduct loaf with larded mashed potatoes, green peabeebees, and luscious chocolate sponge awaits. Piping hot from the oven in 45-minutes. Turn on and warm up the tubes, boys & girls, Moms & Dads. Settle into your stylish TV Dinner Chair. It's big enough for two...move over a little bit honey.

    I had a two seat, also. Very comfortable for people with short legs. You could sit back, relax, and have your feet reach the floor. No looking like EdithAnn with those in your living room. :-)

  • 14 years ago

    It doesn't have the fins, but look at the great bargain that popped up on the Maine CL this AM. I think it's really cute! No, I'm not buying them, but my mind can't help but think how wonderful they'd look with new fabric. $55 for all of this?

    Here is a link that might be useful: WONDERFUL vintage MAPLE COUCH & CHAIR - $55

  • 14 years ago

    Jakabedy, yours is the coolest colonial chair I've ever seen.

    Even as a kid, I liked sleek modern lines while my family and relatives had everything colonial.

  • 11 years ago

    jakabedy would you be interested in selling that chair?


  • 11 years ago

    Back then: constant battle against water rings.
    Now: you'll always know where the remote is.

    pal, what would you do with a sofa like that -- paint it? refinish the wood? what fabric would you use?


  • 11 years ago

    Wow, this is an old thread.

    I would refinish it, these pieces only look right to me in the original satin maple sort of finish.

    Something tweedy or twill-ish would be fine for upholstery.

  • 11 years ago

    Doh! (slaps forehead) -- I forgot to check the date before posting. Thanks for responding anyway, Pal.


  • 11 years ago

    Jason Jacques, I don't think I want to part with the chair. We've moved again, to a little pueblo revival house in New Mexico, and the chair is at home in the guest room. I'm calling it my Cushman Spanish Colonial.