The Tell City Furniture Company, also known as the Tell City Chair company, was one of the most successful and well-known vintage furniture companies in the world. Although the company is no longer operational, its antique and vintage pieces continue to be highly desirable for both antique collectors and homeowners alike.
Tell City Furniture Company Quality
The Tell City Furniture Company was well known for its handcrafted, highly detailed and durable chairs. Like other great Mid Western Furniture Companies, like Baker Furniture and Sligh Furniture, Tell City became well known for its fine products all across the country. The chairs produced by this company were known worldwide and became a standard of quality for handcrafted chairs in the industry. The chairs produced by the Tell City Furniture Company included dining room chairs, rocking chairs as well as sitting chairs.
Of course, at a certain point, Tell City branched out into other products, offering tables first, then buffets and Tell City China Cabinets as well. Eventually, they made beautiful bedroom furniture as well.
Tell City Furniture Company History
The Tell City Furniture company, then called the Tell City Chair company, was founded in 1865 in Tell City, Indiana. This was less than a decade after the city itself was founded. The original name of the company was the Chair Makers Union, which was not changed until 1924. The original conception of the company was a cooperative union, and almost all of these stockholders in the company were also employees who made chairs.
By 1885, the company had been successful enough to expand with a business partnership and improved factories. By 1900, production capacity was increased due to the addition of new machines and multiple buildings. One of the company’s most popular early offerings for double seated cane chairs, which were produced in the factory but then taken into the local city where women weave the cane seats before they were returned to the factory.
Over the next few decades, the company expanded exponentially with new factories and increased craftsmanship capacity and production numbers. The company eventually expanded to include other Furniture, such as dining room tables, which is when they brought her Tell City Furniture Company moniker began to be used with certain catalog items.
The company’s products were so popular that they were even requested by Jacqueline Kennedy, then the first lady of the United States. (She purchased some 425 beautiful cane-seated chairs for the traditional ballroom in the White House).
Unfortunately, the company experienced difficulty due to declining sales and labor disputes in the 1990s. The company eventually closed its factories and ceased operation entirely several years later.
Tell City Furniture Company Value
Today, since the company has closed, the only place to purchase fine Tell City Furniture Products is in antique shops, online resale shops, and Ebay and other online sellers.
The Tell City Furniture company produced hundreds of different chairs throughout its 125 + years of operation. It’s most popular pieces included chairs, which range from simple double cane chairs to more elaborate fancy chairs such as the set ordered by Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s.
In addition to chairs, the company produced dining room tables, lingerie and clothing chests and other accent pieces. These pieces are considered highly valuable today due to the fact that not many of them were produced compared to the company’s chairs.
Most of the fine furniture made by Tell City Furniture Company was maple and cherry. In all honesty, the furniture followed traditional fashions, with simple lines and unpretentious designs. In fact, today, in most vintage Tell City Furniture, form follows function.
That said, Tell City Furniture Company made some very fine furniture in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, they used fine mahogany wood for certain bedroom pieces. Additionally, you can find some lovely cherry Tell City China cabinet out on the market today as well.
Tips for Purchasing Tell City Furniture Products
If you are looking to purchase Tell City Furniture products, you will need to look at secondhand resources. Antique shops and second-hand dealers are your best options for finding authentic Tell City Furniture–or Tell City Chair Company–pieces. Remember to closely inspect all maker’s marks and other defining characteristics to ensure that you are getting an authentic piece, especially if you are looking to buy something on the more valuable end of the spectrum.
Is Tell City Furniture Valuable
Tell City Furniture Values have remained pretty high over recent years. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see a vintage Tell City China cabinet to sell for around $1000-$1500. Likewise, you may find a Tell City chest of drawers for $400-$600. Finally, a Tell City Cherry Dining Table could cost $600-$1100, depending on size and condition.
Tell City Furniture For Sale
Tell City furniture from Tell City Indiana made incredible cherry and maple furniture for many years. You will find some beautiful fine quality furniture made by this fine furniture company on our pages devoted completely to this awesome Furniture brand.
Thank you for visiting our Tell City furniture information page. Also, be sure you check out our video on the subject. Tell City Furniture, Is it Valuable?