I realized after looking at the chair again that I left out some important information. The strips from which this is made are highly stressed - they almost ring when tapped, so the chair is extremely rigid. Also, there is a smooth, white coating over everything that is harder than paint. Also, there is not a single exposed end! I have added some closeup pictures at the link below. Note the irregular surface (rough was a poor description) of the arm in the first pic, which apparently is from weaving the material together. In the second pic one can see what appear to be brush marks. I know the stain by the hole look like rust, but I rechecked the frame with a strong magnet and there is no attraction. I also missed pointing out previously that the holes I mentioned occur at every intersection of strips to the outer structure, probably some sort of bracing point during assembly. You can clearly see that in the 3rd pic, which also shows the heavy application of a coating. I have the impression this was possibly a one-off piece, as it is so unique does not have a manufactured look, and would have been extremely labor intensive to make. At the same time it's a huge undertaking to design for one piece, and I would think an exhibition piece would have been even more finely finished. Here is a link that might be useful: Mystery Chair

Very nice French or French influenced pieces - hard to judge the age because that style has been revived several times. Are the metal pieces bronze, gilt bronze (would be very high class), painted metal, or brass? Can you show the side of a drawer so we can see construction? that helps date things. It's a "bronze mounted bedroom suite" with some inlays Are you wanting to sell? Or just identifying the pieces?

The two 'master' chairs are indeed from a different set. (But I LOVE them. They are sooooo sturdy and comfortable - everyone wants to sit in them! and they have great character) I also think they're made of mahogany, not walnut like the other chairs. But the cane back chairs have carving on the legs that is identical to the feet of the sideboards. All upholstery has been replaced multiple times from looking at the underside of the chairs - I also suspect the caning is not original, but it is doubled and is very heavy grade caning. Sideboards have carved mouldings identical to the mouldings around the edge of the table. *shrugs* Even if the chairs are from a later time, they match well with it. Don't suppose anyone has any ideas on the actual age and origin of the larger pieces? I've looked all over the internet, and I've had one person from Europe suggest they're from the 1930's, 40's, or 50's and made in America, which I have to disagree with. American pieces made during the great depression era aren't large, they aren't heavy, and typically don't have the nice veneer work on them. People simply couldn't afford that sort of furniture at that time. I have several pieces from that era, they're pretty common in this part of the U.S. 1940's ushered in WWII; the ability to manufacture pretty furniture was eclipsed by building airplanes and war machines. 1950's pieces don't tend to have the thick cuts of wood for a carcass - the table top alone is just over an inch thick, same for the tops of the sideboards. They also didn't typically use mortise and tenon construction for things like mouldings around the edges of furniture. I have yet to see any American furniture from any of those decades that have wooden knobs. They usually have brass or brass plated pulls. European pieces tend to have brass hinges; the sideboards I have do have brass hinges, whereas American furniture has iron or steel. I guess I'm just going through process of elimination now. LOL The style is so eclectic, yet not as awkward and top-heavy as Victorian pieces, that I'm led to believe it might be late (very late) Edwardian - which would put it being made in the mid to late 1900's, possibly even early 20's. One other clue to its possible age: It has a servants bell underneath at the area that would be occupied by someone sitting immediately to the left of the head of the table. It was an electric buzzer type thing, with a shred of the original sheathing left around what remains of the cord and it is a woven fabric. Actual copper of the cord looks dangerously thin - as in not up to modern electric standards. The buzzer appeared to be made of Bakelite, but also appears to be added later as I removed it and the wood beneath is lighter, but not by much. It is held on with flat head screws. It came with three leaves, and it will expand just enough for the three of them. The wood has shrunk so they don't fit tightly against one another, you can see right through to the floor in some places, but the moulding still meets at the edges. It has dowels/pegs on the underside of the frame to 'stop' the table at the correct length. I haven't measured it with all three of the leaves yet, but I do know I'll have to have a table cloth that's 70x120, if not larger. Also! The leaves do not have a metal tab system to lock them into place! Or the dowel and tabs like you see on modern pieces! It has carved wooden, half circle 'tongues' which are about a quarter inch thick. They insert into companion slots carved into the next leaf. They must be inserted in order or they don't fit together at all. Each leaf is marked for order of insertion with a scratched roman numeral: I, II, and III. I believe the veneer to be of walnut, as does the antiques dealer/appraiser friend of ours that looked it over this last weekend. He has been in the business for 30 years, and he's never seen anything like them himself. All he could do is confirm they're quality pieces and were a good investment. :-) I have not inspected the underside of the stretcher as it is just too heavy to flip onto its side.

Wicker World is or was a furniture retailer; I don't think they are currently in business. Henry Link is a division of Lexington Home Brands as was Young Hinkle. If you are trying to determine value you would need to take to a furniture appraiser but normally used furniture does not have much value unless it is anitque