Marks – The Stickley Project

Furniture Marks

Although the subject of shop marks in Stickley’s literature has received extensive treatment since the revival of interest in his furniture began nearly fifty years ago, it would be unwise to think that as a methodology for dating furniture, identification of the marks alone is inherently accurate. Moreover, as the dating of specific pieces becomes better documented, these marks may shift somewhat, and either narrow or expand these ranges. While the marks are useful to get an approximate date, they are a blunt instrument. The details of construction and the production history of specific forms provides a more accurate means of determining when a piece was manufactured.

What follows is a selection of shop marks used on Stickley’s furniture, with the dates they are generally assigned. The ordering of marks is essentially chronological but subject to revision. Necessarily, David Cathers, Furniture of the American Arts and Crafts Movement (Philmont, N.Y.: Turn of the Century Press, 1996), revised and expanded from the original text published in 1981, provides the foundation for this (and really any) guide to Stickley’s marks. See also: Kevin Tucker, ed., Gustav Stickley and the American Arts and Crafts Movement (New Haven and London: Yale University Press and the Dallas Museum of Art, 2010), 244-45 for a cogent and recent summary of Stickley’s marks.

Furniture produced by The Gustave Stickley Company is believed to bear this mark in about 1900 to 1901. It remains unclear whether this sticker was used from when the company began in 1898, or even prior to that in the firm of Stickley & Simonds. A terminal date has not been established, but this sticker is generally accepted as the earliest label from his Arts and Crafts period.

Illustrated the October 1901 issue of The Craftsman, this mark–described as the joiner’s compass with the modern Flemish legend “if I can”–was allegedly “branded upon every object produced in the workshop of the Guild,” along with the date and signature of the Master of the United Crafts.

Together with the above mark, this signature and date was illustrated the October 1901 issue of The Craftsman. “In this way,” Stickley informed his readers, “authenticity is assured, comparisons of progress are possible, and every facility of information is afforded to the one who shall acquire the piece.”

Decal with joiner’s compass mark, in red, “Als ik kan” in center, signature (last name only) in box. Believed to have been used ca. 1901-03, although as late as November 1905 The Craftsman advised readers that a paper tag and this device would be found on their furniture.

Decal with joiner’s compass mark, in red, “Als ik kan” in center, signature (last name only) in script. Entire mark and signature surrounded by box. Believed to have been used ca. 1902-04.

Decal with full name in script, no box surrounding, “Als ik kan” in center. Note the “G” is a looping form. Believed to have been used about 1904-through 1906 or 1907.

Smaller variation of the “looping G” mark, with full name in script, no box surrounding, “Als ik kan” in center. Note the transcept of the joiner’s compass is more parallel than in the larger version. Typically associated with the mark directly above and dated about 1904 through 1906 or 1907, the chronology is not well understood. This small mark has been noted on forms dating from 1900-04–so it probably was introduced earlier–and has been seen on forms introduced as late as 1909.

Decal ca. 1905-12, note that the “G” featured a sharp point and that the bar on the compass is oriented horizontally, instead of on a diagonal. Sometimes found in black as well as red.

Paper label, note the word “Eastwood” prominently displayed at the bottom. Often has pencil inscription still visible recording the model number, finish, and upholstery of the piece. Relatively short-lived, probably only in use from about 1905-07.

A paper label not recorded by Cathers in Furniture of the American Art and Crafts Movement, this is somewhat of a transition between the “Eastwood” paper label and the more commonly found paper label. This must date after the establishment of the New York show rooms but I have not seen it often. Presumably a relatively short life-span, maybe 1907 to 1908.

More common paper label with brown text. This has been traditionally dated from 1907 to 1912.

Branded mark, ca. 1912-16, appears to be concurrent with reorganization of The Craftsman Workshops to Gustav Stickley, The Craftsman. Sometimes this is filled red, suggesting it is not branded but struck.

Paper label, ca. 1912-16. As the text states, this was intended to be used in conjunction with the branded mark.

Furniture Marks

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