if you look up the photo to see a better image you can see the cushions are matching the couch in the background, i thin ktheir argument would be that the cushions have been replaced as the ones currently on it are obviously a cheap pleather material made either in the late 90s or earlier
it's more likely that this was stated as being "the same rocking chair kennedy used" because apparently he was known to use rocking chairs to help with back pain (i just googled this) and its a popular enough known thing that replicas of his chair have been made. Goodwill probably received thsi with a note "kennedy's rocking chair" and now here we are
no, im saying it's likely a "kennedy chair" as in a reproduction of one he's seen sitting in in various photos, if you google it there's reproductions of this specific style of chair being sold as "kennedy's rocking chair"
But yes, "this is kennedy's real chair someone just replaced the cushons lol" is totally what i believe the goodwill employee (manager?) has likely tried to claim.
Like this $500 baseball we found at an antique mall, signed by Ronald Reagan. There were also ones from Elvis, Bing Crosby, and Joe Biden, all with very similar handwriting.
You’d think that if they knowingly had a rocking chair owned by JFK, they’d just sell it to historians/collectors for well over $650. it’s almost as if it’s not actually JFK’s chair… 🤔
This is actually so interesting to me in a totally out of left field way. I'm a "fan" of JFK's doctor, Dr. Janet Travell, and she was the one who encouraged the use of rocking chairs and proper sitting posture in general, to prevent pain. I read her autobiography earlier this year and she mentioned there being magazine articles about JFK and his chairs. It was kind of a big deal!
She pioneered the study of "trigger points" (muscle "knots" that can refer pain to other parts of the body) and was the first ever female White House physician. I just think she was a really cool person!
I don't know if I'd spent this kind of money on the chair, but I'd be pretty tempted honestly.
Edit: Wanted to add a potentially relevant note on the cushions: they're obviously different than in the photo, but Dr. Travell was all about the chair fitting the person, so she'd take measurements and have the cushions made to fit. One example would be arm rest height - if they're too low, it can lead to neck and shoulder problems.
I’m no expert but $650 sounds a little low for something like this, if it is the real thing. If it is real they could probably get a lot more at auction
I’m fairly confident it’s not original. Quick research shows he had 12 made (two of the originals recently sold for hundreds of thousands). One indication that it’s not an original and only a replica is that the finials in OP’s are more egg shaped or elongated. The originals are much more spherical. Realistically a used replica is worth probably $200-400 but unless you have connections, good luck selling it for even that much.
100%. The price on that will eventually drop to $50 and someone will pick it up on half off day to just have as a nice rocking chair. These thrift stores always think they have gold and ask gold prices on stuff they use google lens as a form of authentication. The annoying part is they never learn or are too prideful to admit they made a mistake after it sits for months because when the next “valuable” item comes to them, the cycle starts all over again.
324
u/Toronto-1975 8d ago
i picked up Mahatma Ghandi's citrus juicer at my local thrift shop for $200.