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Collectors Guide to Stickley Dressers

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Good Dressers

Gustav Stickley Antique Chest, #909

Gustav Stickley Chest, #909, C1910; 41 ⅞” h x 37 ⅛” w x 19 ⅜”d.
Photo courtesy of Crescent City Auction Gallery.

This late dresser, made from 1907 or 1908 till the end of production is relatively common. The sizes of the model may vary from piece to piece. Sometimes the piece appears with a small free standing shaving mirror designed to sit on top. Another variation may have metal pulls instead of the round wooden knobs exhibited above.

Price Range: $800 - $4,000


Better Dressers

 Gustav Stickley Antique Nine Drawer Chest Dresser, #913,

Gustav Stickley Nine Drawer Chest, #913, 1910-12; 50 ¾”h x 36”w x 20"d.
Photo courtesy of Rago Arts & Auction Center.

Made from 1904 to the dissolution of the company, the Harvey Ellis Nine Drawer’s classic design makes the piece the most desirable dresser for most collectors.

The elegance transcends modernism by featuring bowed sides, an exaggerated sweeping arch to create an illusion of imposing height. The piece came with a variety of hardware including round wooden knobs, v pulls, or straps. The straps seen in the above example are the rarest variation.

The dresser is composed commonly using oak, but also appears in mahogany or curly maple. The curly maple dressers are spectacular and occasionally feature elaborate inlay. Every collector should aspire to this model.

Price Range: $2,000 - $12,000


Best Dressers

Gustav Stickley Cathedral Bookcase #510

Gustav Stickley, #627, 1901-1907; 53"h x 40"w x 22"d.
The photo courtesy Treadway Toomey Auctions.

Made between 1901 and 1907, the piece was ultimately discontinued due to the high cost of production with its chamfered sides. Like many Gustav Stickley pieces with this feature, first the chamfering was eliminated from the back of the piece and later the form in its entirety. Later versions with plywood backs and secondary woods made up the interior including the sides and back of the draws. Everything about the quality of the wood on the later examples make the piece significantly lighter.

The chamfered sides and overall structure give the piece a characteristically Stickley illusion of height. Although most pieces conform to the example dimensions, a shorter version and rare earlier versions in experimental sizes are available. The earliest version has an inverted v styled kick board, a chamfered back and pyramidal metal hardware. This early line of hardware pulls are relatively small in comparison to the above example, but the same basic design. However, the purest and most proportionally perfect version of the form has wooden pyramidal pulls like the furnishing featured above. Additionally, some enthusiasts prefer oval metal pulls. In short no matter the pull this piece is fantastic.

Price Range: $3,000 - $18,000


Exceptional Dressers

Gustav Stickley Four Door Bookcase

Gustav Stickley Chest of Draws, #614, 1902-3; 45"w x 23 1/4"d x 61 1/4"h.
Photo courtesy of Toomey & Co. Auctioneers.

The holy grail of bedroom chests pictured above was made from 1901 through 1903. Less than a dozen examples are known. Although there are variations of hardware, the featured form is the classic and most desirable and fully realized example.

As you can see, the kick board creates a subtle trapezoidal negative space at the bottom of the piece. This style of kick board only appears on the very earliest Gustav Stickley pieces. Additionally, the panels sides and through tenons connecting the bottom rails show the high quality of the craftsman’s wood work.

There is a close relationship between the design of this piece and earlier American pieces including pieces made by the Shaker community.

Price Range: $20,000 - $100,000