Cool. . .

. . . is what you'll say when you see this attractive antique oak icebox.

For centuries humans have struggled with how to preserve food. Many foodstuffs could be smoked, dried, or fermented, but our ancestors understood that cold could keep meat, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables fresh. Storage could be as simple as immersing an item in a natural spring or as labor-intensive as digging a root cellar. Ice pits and wells lined with stone and filled with ice harvested from ponds and lakes were the earliest iceboxes. In the early 1800s, Frederick Tudor established the Tudor Ice Company, commercially harvesting ice during New England winters and shipping it as far away as Hong Kong and India.  Dubbed the "Ice King," Tudor insulated the ice with sawdust, a byproduct of the lumber industry, learned how to stack it like bricks to help preserve it during its journey, and built special insulated ice houses for storing the ice. By the mid-1800s, the machines for artificially creating ice were patented.

The availability of ice resulted in the creation of the home "icebox," typically lined with zinc or tin and adorned outside with wood. By the late 1800s, such iceboxes were standard kitchen appliances. Because the ice would eventually melt, homes had regular visits from ice men who delivered blocks of ice, some as heavy as 60 pounds. In 1927, General Electric introduced the first popular electric refrigerator and by the 1930s, iceboxes were becoming obsolete.

However, you could give this unique antique a second life. With its handsome oak exterior, it would make the most amazing cooler for drinks and adult libations, or, with a little ingenuity, it could be repurposed as a bar, storage unit, or even book shelf. 

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

 

Mission Accomplished. . .

. . . is certainly what the proud future owner of this magnificent mission settee set would say when this outstanding oak furniture comes to grace his or her home. 

Dating from the 1910s, these beautifully crafted chairs and matching settee are done in American mission style. The American mission style, although referencing the missions of colonial California, actually evolved from the Arts and Crafts movement. Beginning in Britain in the 1890s, the movement  was a reaction against the over-ornamented and faux-historical style popular in Victorian England, advocating instead for balanced and unembellished designs crafted from natural materials. The American mission style is known for its solid and sturdy furniture, with simple lines and fine craftsmanship that underscores the natural beauty of the wood, typically oak. The unpretentious and understated style fits well with any decor from traditional to minimalist to mid-century modern. 

The set is attributed to the Michigan Chair Company, founded in 1890 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company came to produce chairs and accompanying occasional pieces in a wide variety of styles and woods. It first introduced a line of mission chairs as early as 1898, but by 1909 began creating more period revival and ornamented designs, such as Colonial, Elizabethan, Chippendale, and French. The company is still in business, although it has not produced furniture since 1970, instead offering custom solid hardwood steam bending.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

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