Hitchcock Furniture: Is it Valuable?
Hitchcock Furniture is immediately recognizable. Of course, with handsome stenciling and beautiful Early American charm, Hitchcock Furniture company has produced furniture for millions of households across the United States.
To learn more about Hitchcock company, watch this video.
What is Hitchcock Style Furniture?
The Hitchcock Furniture Company capitalized on principally one style of furniture. Of course, most people know of the charming wood and painted furniture look that made Hitchcock famous. Most of the time, you will see a wooden top or seat, and a factory painted base or bottom. Typically, Hitchcock furniture features solid cherry and maple furniture.
Obviously, Hitchcock chairs typically are the most common vintage pieces on the market today. Indeed, Hitchcock chairs feature wooden seats, and painted backs and legs. Many of these chairs feature a black frame with gold stenciling. However, the company offered many models of chairs. So, you may find white Hitchcock chairs, green Hitchcock chairs and even the rare blue Hitchcock chairs.
Finally, there are even some vintage chairs without any painted detail. In other words, these chairs have an all wood stain look.
The Colonial style of Hitchcock furniture has other imitators though. For instance, Ethan Allen also made its own line of Hitchcock style furniture. Ethan Allen Hitchcock furniture still has a collector’s value. However, it is not authentic Hitchcock furniture.
How to Identify Hitchcock Furniture
Identifying Hitchcock Furniture is fairly simple. Of course, most of the authentic Hitchcock furniture will feature a very distinct signature. Indeed, this insignia lies on the back of the chair, along the seat edge.
Authentic Hitchcock chairs will read: Hitchcock, Hitchcockville, Conn. Warrented. Often, the “n’s” in the are printed backwards.
However, some very old original Hitchcock furniture may have a different label, or different wording on the back.
As far as labels inside old vintage Hitchcock dressers, you will often find a label with an artist’s rendering of the old Hitchcock Furniture factories.
Is Hitchcock Furniture still in Business?
In a short answer, yes Hitchcock is still in business today! The company went out of business in 2006 but was purchased by two men, Rick Swenson and Gary Hath in 2010. The company recently reopened again in April of 2021. Today, you can visit the retail store in Riverton, Connecticut (formerly Hitchcockville). Also, you can once again purchase Hitchcock furniture from their current website and some other retailers across the country.
Hitchcock Furniture History
The Hitchcock Furniture company has a long and interesting history.
Firstly, the company opened in the early 1800s. Lambert Hitchcock acquired a wooden two story factory in Connecticut in 1820, after apprenticing as a woodworker for several years. He also had sold chair parts to other companies previously. However, in the 1820s, he decided to create an assembly line style factory to produce his own chairs. In fact, he used local prisoners to weave the rush seats. In order to decorate his chairs and help them stand out, he used metal stencils and metallic powders to add some glitz and flair to his products.
Both the processes, and the materials allowed Hitchcock to offer his chairs at a reasonable cost to the average American consumer. At the time, Hitchcock chairs sold for between 49 cents and $1.50 a piece. The chairs were a huge success!
However, even with his competitive pricing model, Hitchcock had some bad business luck in 1829. He was forced into partnership with his brother-in-law in 1830. Some chairs from this brief period are marked, “Hitchcock, Alford & Co.”
Also, during this time, the “n” in Connecticut was printed backwards, supposedly because most of the workforce at that time was illiterate. Surprisingly, this became a sort of trademark for the company.
Hitchcock in the 20th Century
Hitchcock Furniture company reopened and had much success in the 20th century. However, in 2006, the company closed, like many furniture companies like Pennsylvania House. Indeed, domestic manufacturers had to compete with cheaper imports.
Thankfully, Hitchcock reopened again and today still produces its famous Hitchcock-style furniture in the United States.
Is Hitchcock Furniture Valuable?
Hitchcock Furniture is still valuable today, as long as the Hitchcock pieces are in excellent condition. That said, not all Hitchcock Furniture has the same value. Obviously, very early original pieces from the founder’s period (circa 1820) will command the highest dollar. On the other hand, 20th Century Hitchcock furniture can still command in the hundreds or thousands on the used furniture market.
Let’s take a look at some vintage Hitchcock pieces and their approximate value.
A Hitchcock single chair with wooden seat, made in the later half of the 20th century usually sells for between $200 and $400.
Meanwhile, a special edition chair by Hitchcock with a unique scene or hand painted elements could cost 10-20 percent more.
Hitchcock dining tables can cost between $400 and $1500 on the second hand furniture market. Of course, the wide range in prices reflects the size and general condition of Hitchcock furniture. Obviously, a grand table with multiple leaves and in excellent condition could soar above the $1500 mark, as far as retail value.
How to Clean Hitchcock Furniture
As with any wood furniture, you may have questions regarding how to clean Hitchcock furniture. Obviously, you need to stay away from very strong chemicals that could damage the finish or the paint on vintage Hitchcock chairs, desks or tables.
Firstly, a dry soft cloth should be used to remove any layers of dust on the piece. Then, I recommend using a very diluted solution of Murphy’s oil soap and lukewarm water. However, I must say, you do not need to douse the piece in water. Instead, use a damp rag to wipe the piece and follow with a dry t-shirt rag to remove any beads of water.
If your vintage piece of Hitchcock furniture has a heavy wax build-up, you may have to do this a few times to remove the waxiness.
As far as the wooden areas on a Hitchcock chair, you can use a product called Restor-a-finish by Howards (in cherry or walnut) to bring life back to an old piece. Apply in the direction of the grain with a soft t-shirt rag.
Finally, you can seal this product in with their beeswax polish (also made by Howards). Or, you can use a spray wax, like “The Original Beeswax.”
Principally, you want to use a light coat and buff in the direction of the grain.
With these simple tips, you can clean your Hitchcock furniture and preserve it for years to come.