I am curious to know the value of this old potty chair (assuming that is what it is). I have had this for many years. The top (lid) goes up.
How cute! I haven't seen one of these since the 1980s.
Wooden potty chairs were/are both functional pieces and then were decorator pieces. When country style furniture was big in the 1980s there was a resurgence of sorts and these were popular decorator pieces often used to hold pots of flowers. There were new ones made for that craze.
Do you know the history of yours--is it a true early piece (early 1900s) or was it a repro piece from the 1980s?
While the true antiques (ones that are from 1919 or before) hold a little more value, overall values are all over the place from SOLD prices of $15 to $150. Yours looks like a good quality wood, but it is missing the chamber, which will take away from the value.
Interestingly enough, the ones with cute graphics either burned into them or the old cello graphics glued on seem to fetch more in some markets than the (what I prefer) solid and plain varieties). I guess people like the cute duckies and bunnies that were often used to decorate these pieces for their themes.
Since all furniture piece sales are regional and supply and demand based, my best suggestion is to talk to a vintage/antique dealer in your town to see how much it would cost to buy one like yours and then that would be retail value. You can--if you sell yours--expect to fetch 1/4 to 1/2 of retail in your town.
If you don't want to go that route, you can always start high like $100 and take best offer. I don't recommend selling on eBay because of the new DIM shipping (if you are in the US because shipping a piece of this size and weight will probably cost more than the piece is worth).
It is adorable and people still use them for decorating pieces. They may also use them for their true intended purpose, but it would the chamber and getting one to fit may be a challenge.
Thanks for sharing this cutie!! Post back with how your sale goes if you are selling!
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Looking for information about an old style wooden commode stool. Needs some restoration work. What is it worth? The seller is asking $60.00.
I think this is 19th century Chamber Pot Stand and it has a step
www.invaluable.com/
I found 19th Century Victorian Rosewood Box Commode with Step & Porcelain Pot at 120 GBP
This stool does appear to have a lot of damage and water damage cannot be 'repaired' that part will have to be replaced. That involves trying to match the wood as well as more work than just 'redoing' an item.
Is this pick-up in your area?
Definitely try to find one in your area as shipping will be expensive.
I would not pay more than $15-$25 but would probably try to find one in better condition. What site is this listed for sale? Can you post a link to the posting?
As to finding value, whatever price someone pays for this chair will be considered 'current value'.
If it sold as is, and subsequently repaired/completely redone and relisted for sale, then you could probably raise the price by 100% or more from the price you paid.
You cannot compare this chair with other chairs for value as other chairs are completely different in all respects.
Hi, How can I find the value of my potty chair? I also would like to find the year it came from and more specific information on it.
Thank you in advance.
Laura
It will be difficult to place a value on your chair unless you can find a close match that has been sold as a sold price is where a 'value' is found. Sellers Asking prices of an item means nothing (except to the seller) until it is sold.
Your chair has several disadvantages as the cushion and back originally had cane webbing and the pillow and back have been added.
Not having a chamber pot (and lid) will lower the value.
Generally, anyone buying something like this wants all original.
If you wish to sell your chair, you could list it on sites like Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace (and any other site you wish). Start with a higher price - maybe $150-$200 with best offers considered, and local pick-up.
Leave it posted for a few weeks and if no offers are received then lower the price and wait again.
The term "potty" comes from the removable pot placed underneath chairs of this type. This style of chair has had many names over the years, including "necessary stool", "night stool", "convenience", and "commode." Chairs like this one were common in American homes until the widespread use of flush toilets in the mid-20th century. Toilet-like chair was designed to hold a chamber pot and was used before indoor plumbing became common.
Similar Victorian commode chair:
www.worthpoint.com/
Victorian/Edvardian commode chair:
www.worthpoint.com/
(you can use free trial)
The value is about $200.
Does anyone know any information and the value of this wooden potty chair? I do not have the original pot or cushion.
Your chair seems to fall in the vintage/antique adult Windsor Commode Chair category.
There are a lot of similar styles listed for sale and some that have sold over the past several years.
Most sold item prices seem to fall in the very low category; but overall condition and location will have a lot to do with value.
Chairs are costly to ship and most items are listed by sellers as 'local pick up' so there is no shipping cost involved.
Antique buyers like to find items that have all original pieces included, so not having an original chamber pot may make it less attractive to potential buyers - thus less value.
A cushion may not make a difference.
This seems to be an almost identical chair:
I found it listed in several places and although the sold date was the same, the sold prices was different.
Hammer price (sold) $80 - 2017
www.eldreds.com/
$45 - 2017
www.invaluable.com/
Sold price: $20
www.liveauctioneers.com/
Sold for $5 in 2020:
www.invaluable.com/
This site is registered as a 'scam' so prices cannot be quoted, but you can review pictures without harm.
www.malls-77.ga/
www.scam-detector.com/
You may have to decide on your own as to what you feel is the value in your area. You can always start your listing with a higher price -$150 or? and lower the price if no one makes an offer.
List on Facebook Marketplace and other local sites with local pick up only.
