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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: Jlsherf on December 01, 2015, 04:52:16 PM
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I recently acquired a Hendryx bird cage from an estate sale. It has me totally baffled! It is brass but as you will see in the pictures, was painted white. Hendryx is stamped in the brass on the side of the cage and not on a brass plate. The bottom is wood and not brass as so many I've seen are. I have not measured it but it is not small. The shape is kind of Moroccan. I am hoping someone can help me with an age and approximate value. I have seen many Hendryx bird cages for sale but I know that what one prices something and what it sells for are not the same. This one is also so different from any I've seen on line. Any help is appreciated whether it is research material or your knowledge of this piece. Thanks!
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Is the whole top "brass" underneath or a mix of wood as well?
Not that unusual to see a bird cage painted that was made with metal.
I personally haven't seen a Hendryx like this but have seen many imported bird cages (reproductions) over the years that look like this. Can you please post a picture of the Hendryx mark?
Hopefully someone else will chip in.
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http://www.retropeacock.com/hendryx.html#.Vl4-TsJRGM8
I looked a bit on this from the Kovels forum but didn`t have much time this morning !! You should find the link above interesting !! There is a digitized copy of Hendryx 1938 catalogue at the bottom !! Maybe it will be in there !! But according to this article by 1938 they had produced an enormous number of cages,,20 million or so I think it said !!
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I will get a picture if the Hendryx mark tomorrow in better lighting. I too would have probably painted it for decor reasons! Lol! Thank you for the replies and I am anxious to read the link. Will post new picture tomorrow. Again thank you!
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Good morning! I have the picture of the Hendryx mark. Also the bottom "shelf" is all wood as are the finials on top. I looked at the link to the sales pamphlet but they want $38 for it. I'm not sure I want to go that route. I have looked up so far, a few of the styles listed to no avail. I did live the history of the Hendryx family business though and appreciate it much!!! Thanks again!
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Here's a link to a "free" digital copy of their 1910 catalog.
http://digital.hagley.org/cdm/ref/collection/p268001coll12/id/20002 (http://digital.hagley.org/cdm/ref/collection/p268001coll12/id/20002)
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That digital copy was from 1938 so that must have been the price from that year !!
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Whew! That is a lot of bird cages! Thank you KC, Mart and Danville for the info. I am starting to think it is possibly a "marriage" of bird cage parts or as KC said, a reproduction. Never the less its really cool. I didn't see one even close in the catalog! That being said, would it have any value? I paid $30 for it. I hope its worth at least that!!! Lol! Thanks so much y'all for your help!
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I do not think its a repro with a wooden floor and finials !! And yes,, I am sure you will not have to worry about its having value !! Most of the larger more ornate cages such as this usually sell for several hundred !! I can see this one in a nice Victorian setting !! Did you match the name stamped on yours to the ones shown ?? The early Hendryx cages had the name stamped into the cage metal itself,,no attached name plate !!
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What are the dimensions of the cage?
It does have value.
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While looking at the catalog the marking does look right. Here are the dimensions...
27" tall
13" wide x 9" front to back.
Its not huge but it is a good size! I knew I had to have it the mi ute I saw it! Like I said I had never seen one like it. Thank you again!
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Will you please post a picture of the logo/mark? I see that you said you had it but don't see it posted.
Thanks!
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Oh my! I just noticed it didn't post! Let me try again.
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Looks right to me !! Would be easier to see without paint but I do not think its a repro !!
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Thanks Mart! Thanks everyone! I will continue to research. I would love to know about when it was made. You guys have been great! I have been reading the other questions and am learning so much. This forum is the best! I will soon be having to sell some items of my aunt's. She has a few pieces that she inherited from her husbands family. One is a Morse chair. So far I haven't found one that looks like this one. There are no markings on it. This for another time though. Thanks again y'all!
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Jlsherf
Is Morse chair a brand name or do you mean Morris Chair?
A Morris chair is an early type of reclining chair. The design was adapted by William Morris's firm, Morris & Company, from a prototype owned by Ephraim Colman in rural Sussex, England. It was first marketed around 1866.
PeLady
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Thanks Mart! Thanks everyone! I will continue to research. I would love to know about when it was made. You guys have been great! I have been reading the other questions and am learning so much. This forum is the best! I will soon be having to sell some items of my aunt's. She has a few pieces that she inherited from her husbands family. One is a Morse chair. So far I haven't found one that looks like this one. There are no markings on it. This for another time though. Thanks again y'all!
You mean Morris Chair ?? There are many different styles of those !! Will wait to see it !!
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Yes I meant Morris chair! I really should check how my phone auto corrects before I post. Lol! Thanks for the correction! My aunt said her mother in law told her it was over 100 years old. Who knows! I feel certain its been recovered at some point. My issue is I haven't really read enough about the history of them to know anything yet. I was just throwing it out there as a possible new question in the near future. Lol! It isn't marked anywhere. Again thanks for seeing my typo. Its not like I didn't know, I have looked at 100's on line over the past months to find one that looks like this one. The arms are smooth with no "peg". Anyway, I will search some more and then post a picture when I'm searched out. Thank you!
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http://artsandcraftshomes.com/evolution-of-the-morris-chair/
Here is an excellent article on the evolution of the Morris chair !! Gives you an idea of the number of different designs there are !! The top pic is from 1865 and is how the original Morris Chairs looked !!
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Thanks Mart!
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Update on the bird cage!!! I decided to have my sister put this cage on her shop just to see if there would be any takers. After y'alls responses and much research we thought it worth the gamble! We put what we thought a really out there price on it. $936. I didn't buy it for resale as I am not in the business anymore but just thought it might be fun to see if there was any response. Could also use the money if it did sell at that price. Lol! Google had it within 2 hours and her first response was in 2 days. An avid Hendryxs collector was totally amazed and was going to show it to her friends who were also collectors. She said she had never seen this cage in all of her years of collecting. She didn't question the price. She also asked if my sister would ship to Alaska. The next day a man from a new Museum that opened in April of this year contacted her. The Museum of Aquarium and Pet History. He offered $600. My question is should I hold out for my price with the attention from the collector or do I counter the museum? At any rate my $30 is turning out to be a huge investment for something I was going to use as bed room decor. Lol! Sometimes it pays to buy what you love. Not very often though. Am I being greedy? Really what would y'all do?
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My belief on that is simple,, if the first person inquired with a serious offer,, that should come first !! Honesty and integrity is important in this business !! You put a price on it,,I would say honor that price, then if it falls through, go to next on the list !! I don`t see playing people just for more money !! The museum probably has limited funds,, Check them out on google before making a decision there !! Make sure they are who they say they are !! I always give those that make serious inquiries X amount of time before going to the next one !! Not ebay of course but other sales where I have control !!
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Thanks Mart! The first inquirer did not make an offer but was very interested. The second inquirer was the museum @ $600. I did check them out but found only that they had just opened this past April. I would never play games so to speak but am wondering if I should contact the collector who first inquired to let them know there was an offer but not reveal how much. I am excited on the one hand that it could be in a museum possibly forever. He did say his museum web site would be up and running the first of the year. I will give my sister the answer today as to what I want her to do. Her premium is going to be awesome either way! Thanks again Mart!
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That would be fine !! Let the first one know and ask them if they would like to make an offer !! No, do not give amounts offered !! Ebay doesn`t !! Fairness is just giving everyone equal opportunity !!
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That is what I want to be is fair. Thanks for confirming my thoughts. Have a wonderful day!
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How exciting!!!! Let us know how it goes! Pretty good investment at that! :)
I am also for keeping integrity in a business that isn't always known for that. Takes just one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch (makes me think of an old Michael Jackson song! LOL)
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I am a bit excited KC but learned in business a long time ago to not count my chickens before they have hatched! Lol! It is my sister's shop so I would never make decision that would jepordize her 4star rating. She said she would contact the first person to give them a chance to make an offer and then counter the museum slightly. We started this business together years ago but due to a family crises I backed out. She has done much better by herself as she doesn't have to split profits. I love that she loves it so much! I will let you know the outcome. 😁
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Wishing you two all the best!
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So I decided to sell the Hendryx bird cage to the Museum of Aquarium and Pet History! How greedy could I get anyway! Lol! Now it will stand as it should and be admired by many hopefully for years to come. It is located in Paso Robles, CA. They are to go online this Spring. I'm not sure when they will open the doors. Again I want to thank all of you who advised me on this. BTW, the money's "in the bank"!!!!! 😁
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Excellent decision any way you look at it !! You made a good profit,, they got something they needed !!
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Yep! I'm smilin big tonight!! 😁
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You should be!