Bentwood chairs of this type tend to date from the turn of the 19th Century (post 1891) Most were made for commercial settings such as ice cream parlors, cafe's and hotels . These were mass produced items of which still survive in great numbers. Sets still are very reasonably priced with comparable sets of fours selling at auction for less than $150.00.
Would their value be harmed if I were to refinish? Or is it desirable to keep the olden-look? I'm just trying to preserve them from further deterioration.
These were mass produced items, so refinishing them would not lower their value, but the finish appears to be in good shape from your images. I'd just use a good furniture cleaner and rewax them with a dark polish such as "MinWax for dark finishes". It's a hard past wax that polishes up well and tends to hide scratches and nicks.
Bentwood chairs of this type
Bentwood chairs of this type tend to date from the turn of the 19th Century (post 1891) Most were made for commercial settings such as ice cream parlors, cafe's and hotels . These were mass produced items of which still survive in great numbers. Sets still are very reasonably priced with comparable sets of fours selling at auction for less than $150.00.
Lovejoy
Would their value be harmed
These were mass produced
These were mass produced items, so refinishing them would not lower their value, but the finish appears to be in good shape from your images. I'd just use a good furniture cleaner and rewax them with a dark polish such as "MinWax for dark finishes". It's a hard past wax that polishes up well and tends to hide scratches and nicks.
Lovejoy