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n/a
118 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Jun 2006 : 16:31:16
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Hi - I have just acquired a lovely metal framed nursing chair/armchair. I was hoping to be able to date it. Were metal framed ones made within a certain period of time - i.e. can I date it more easily because it has the metal frame? Where is a good source for dating chairs? - Most antique books just leave me baffled.
Sue D
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oldsofas
264 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2006 : 16:59:37
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| Spring unit = 'Ah 1937' metal frame = 'Ah 1860' - or thereabouts - early to mid Victorian I'd say, (Victorian being 1837 - 1901) - but I'm no expert. A welder friend of ours - www.hoofart.co.uk - was very interested in the frame of our tub bergere chair. Hand made nails and some natty welding techniques apparently - I'll ask him when he thinks all these metal fusing techniques date from. |
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n/a
118 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2006 : 09:54:58
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Oooh- how impressive.
The handmade nails sounds like the ones on this one - large heads and quite rudimentary spikes.
Can't say I've noticed the welding - I'll have another look and rub my chin sagely in sight of my husband - that'll throw him!
Thanks - that helps a lot
Sue D |
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Feena
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2006 : 14:00:45
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Hello again! I've been busy away from the forum at my upholstery class and have successfully completed an edwardian pin chair seat and a footstool - very pleased with both!
I have also purchased a metal framed nursing/armchair which is a lovely shape and has real potential, unfortunately on stripping down I discovered that the wooden base frame holding the legs and the iron has previously broken and been badly repaired and the dowels of the 2 rear legs have all broken. Some of the metal parts have also come away from the base. I've taken it to a local restorer who has quoted £85 if I bring it back to him fully stripped down (it is only partially stripped at the moment). Do you think this is a reasonable amount for him to charge (bearing in mind that I live in London and things are generally more expensive) and do you think it is worth doing?
I've fallen in love with the chair but don't want to waste money. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
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oldsofas
264 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2006 : 07:17:29
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Feena, it's difficult to advise you without seeing the extent of the damage, but instinctively I'd say spend £85 on tools and books and repair the chair frame yourself. The problem with old sofas and chairs is that they invariably need repairs and fixes that require woodworking skills - even if it's just screwing on a new set of castors. I'm no carpenter, but I've always had to turn my hand to fixing frames and re attaching doweled legs etc.
When we first started I knew a professional furniture maker - so he claimed - and because I had no confidence in my carpentry skills we paid him £40 to fix a leg on an armchair. He did so and we delivered the chair to the customer. The customer was a very wealthy lady who had agreed to buy three armchairs and a 7' chesterfield from us. (It would not be overstating things to say that she almost single handedly launched our upholstery business) The armchair was the second we had completed so we still had one more and the chesterfield to do for her. Two weeks after we delivered the chair she phoned up and said that while on holiday her parents had been house sitting and her Dad had nearly broken his neck when the leg snapped off the chair while he was sitting in it! I think it was probably the worst moment in our business lives so far. She could have sued us, demanded her money back for the chair and the one before that that we'd sold her and cancelled the next one and the chesterfield. For some reason she forgave us. We collected the chair, I called my Dad and together we repaired the chair leg properly.
The only other time that we considered calling in a 'professional' was when we had a huge Victorian sofa with masses of show wood. It was in a terrible condition and once we'd stripped the upholstery off it became apparent that every joint was smashed (this happens if people continue to use a piece when the webbing is broken or one castor missing.). I was given the name of a furniture restorer by a local antique shop. I phoned up and was told that he could have a look at it in around six months time, so I fixed it myself.
Feena, not only are you well on your way to becoming an excellent upholsterer, you are going to acquire woodworking and furniture repairing skills and be self sufficient. Do a bit of research and find a good book on woodwork/chair repairing and spend the rest of your £85 on whatever tools you'll need.
Good luck D |
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wheelcottage
United Kingdom
11 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2006 : 10:47:05
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Hi,
I would try and repair it your self. Wooden dowels can be drilled out and replaced with new ones using modern wood glue. Try your local library for books on furniture restoration for tips on repair.
For any metal frame repairs, see if you can find a local blacksmith they will do repairs.
Hope this helps, good luck with your chair.
Regards
Gill |
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n/a
153 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2006 : 14:37:40
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At least repairing yourself you know the work will have been done sympathetically and probably to a higher standard. some of the the repairs to chairs done by so called 'experts' would make your hair curl!
Sue |
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Feena
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jun 2006 : 13:37:13
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Thanks for the advice - I'll definitely look into it.
Managed to strip the chair last night, it was a messy job as it was stuffed with hay and held together with patches of potato sack! Looking forward to getting it back to its former glory. |
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jean
France
198 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jun 2006 : 07:22:29
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On the subject of HAY...
This is the normal stuffing for seats and some backs in France. Although it looks like and smells like hay the upholsterers here assure me it is not - they prefer to call it CRIN VEGETAL (crin being stuffing or hair)- I will always call it hay! It gives a very solid and firm seat. Of course the French do have very hard furniture - they have to work hard for their beauty and comportment - but I now use it on all seats French and English. I have recently used it in a Victorian Chaise Longue and was surprised (relieved even!) to find that it buttons well too. Unfortunately you can't buy it in England as far as I know but I regularly come back from the suppliers here with a bale of HAY in the back of my car.
I'm not trying to convert anyone here! To each his own - although I think it is fascinating the differences between English and French upholstery (their stitching is VERY different!). But when you come across hay don't, please, assume it's a cheap job - in a few years time it might be one of mine!
Potato sacks I can't comment on - never come across those in the local suppliers! |
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n/a
153 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2006 : 10:28:07
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| often come accross potato sacks in the local upholstery must be due to the fact that it was the main industry round here for a while |
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Topic |
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iron framed chair
