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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: TEZZA53 on May 23, 2011, 08:25:04 AM
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Hi, I have a pair of chairs I want to restore, I would like to know more about these chairs,are they English, French, Dutch, German, before I start if anyone could help me identify the approximate age of them and also what type of material and colour they would have been.
many thanks,
Tezza
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I was hoping someone with more knowledge than I would chime in but you maybe stuck with me ;D
I cant make out the detail of the carvings. Is it possible to post some close-ups of them? Also close up's of the seat construction (corners) plus the hardware would also be helpful. Once we have that, we maybe able to narrow down a style then an approximate age. Once you have an age, determining fabric will be easier.
Are you planning on selling these? If so, I would recommend covering in a plain muslin so the new owner can choose the fabric to match their decor and just staple it over the muslin without having to mess with the insides.
Also... Welcome to the forum!!! ;D
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Hi Oceans64, thanks for the reply, didn't think anyone was going to answer lol, As requested more pictures of carvings and corner construction + hardware (think screws might have been replaced not sure), hope this will help identify the period of the chairs.
Best Regards
Tezza.
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Are these family pieces or did you purchase them ?? Any history on them ??
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My first thought is that they have Eastlake type decorations. Keep in mind I think a lot of highly carved chairs look like Easklake's style that may not be LOL. What I am looking at are the punched indents in the flower petals and the straight line carvings on the sides of the back of the chair. These sides also extend up and have somewhat of the shape as some Eastlake chairs. Here is a little history on his influence. http://www.drloriv.com/lectures/eastlake.asp The book referenced is available for free on Google Books. There are several pics of carvings and you may be able to find this one.
Now my next question.... What is going on at the back of the chair? Specifically below the seat. Another pic from the back maybe helpful. There seems to be alot of support (maybe called rails??)- More than structurally necessary.
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The basic form looks Eastlake but legs do not !! I noticed the stretchers too but I think these are side chairs or hall type chairs rather than dining chairs which might account for the extra support !!
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Also... If you looking to reupholster these in a period correct manner, then you are going to need some springs for the seat. I am 94.5% sure this had springs originally. I have not found them at my local fabric stores (tho I never asked if they had some stashed somewhere). They are easily found online tho so you may want to order them now if you plan on starting soon. In the projects section there are a couple of good threads on upholstering chairs.
Your other option would be to cut a piece of wood in the shape of the seat. This will give you a much stiffer seat (like a dining chair).
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Are the back legs splayed out a bit ??
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Hi Mart, No sorry mart no history, they were buried at the back of the loft of my mums bungalow she bought last year. thought they were to good to chuck on the bonfire.
To me they look a little like Elizabethan, but maybe later repro`s,they look like they got loads of age to them but some people are so clever ageing things so any help would be a great help.
overall height is 37"
width is 18"
depth is 17"
seat height is 18"
seat size 18" x 17"
back seat pad is 8" x 17"
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Hi again a couple more pictures which may help ;D
Just a thought these chairs are in the UK,
I think they are hall chairs, or maybe church or country furniture
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Hi mart, No the back legs are not splayed. ::)
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They look really gothic revival to me, they are very similar to chairs I have been browsing from the 1600's but were probably made in the late 1800's-early 1900's.
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Hi hosman321, have you got a link to the chairs you have been looking at please, could be helpful, if they are copies of Gothic chairs I would like to restore these as close as possible to the originals, have you any idea what the seat and back support materials were. I have an idea it could possibly be leather ? or could it be tapestry material ? but what colour either way ?
Many Thanks.
Tezza.
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Here are a few. Different, but same style. The first is supposedly original, the second link has reproductions. It's really up to you how you would like them to look, they used all different colors/fabrics back then. If you would like more fabric examples to browse through, you can search ebay or yahoo and search for:
Jacobean Chair
Gothic chair
gothic revival chair
Then, you can get different fabric styles and colors. :)
If you would like them to look authentic and 1600's-ish, you could give them wooden plank seats rather than fabric.
Oh, and definitely don't refinish the wood or try to change it, they are great as-is.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-CARVED-BREWSTER-TYPE-PILGRAM-CHAIR-CIRCA-1670s-/300560271860?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item45fac9c9f4
http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Walnut-Jacobean-Chairs-/230618915034?pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item35b1f560da
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Argh!!!! The more I look at these chairs, the more puzzled I get!! LOL
The back looks nice and symmetrical so I can see why they added the extra stretchers. Just looks right (to my eye anyway). That said, I am trying to envision how the upholstery looked. The front back was upholstered right? I can see nail holes, lighter wood, etc... Then you flip the chair around to the back and the back looks as if it was never covered. Did the Upholstery attach to the sides of the chair or just the front?
ETA: Here is a link to "Hints on Household Taste..." which started the Eastlake trend. http://books.google.com/books?id=irgaAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=eastlake+furniture&hl=en&ei=_zrcTfuLOKjjiAKUrqwb&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CHMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false
I flipped through it (for the 100th time - LOL) and I am sticking to my original impression that it is Eastlake in style. The fact that it's in the UK is interesting. If memory serves (and it is often wrong) Eastlake furniture was not popular there. Not like here in the US anyway. It probably would have stayed more to it's original form as well.
Eastlake's style is technically Gothic Revival IMO. His book prior to this was call "A History of Gothic Revival" so he was definitely influenced.
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Hi oceans64, haha your right it is frustrating, I am at the point now where maybe the bonfire was the better option ??? Seriously though I love the look of these chairs, I have scoured the net for the last 2 or 3 weeks trying to find something like them but to no avail.
The answer to your question oceans is yes it is attached at the sides.
I really do appreciate all the help you are all giving me many thanks to you all.
Tezza.
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If you are in the UK that explains a lot !! They are probably hall chairs !! Back in the 70`s and 80`s when antiques were bringing fair money many dealers imported shipments of English antiques to the U.S. !! I had a shop at that time and bought many pieces here !! I have seen similar chairs although not exactly like yours !! I would call them Gothic Revival and they would date about 1900 or a bit after . Your wood looks like walnut which was commonly used for chairs because of its strength and durability !! They should not be difficult to restore however the fabric would be more difficult to guess !! If I were restoring these chairs,, I would use a fabric with an English hunt scene !! If you want to stay with the period and the feel of the chairs,, Don`t use florals or frilly material !! Imagine a hunting lodge !!
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To get some inspiration for period appropriate upholstery, try searching for portrait paintings from 1880-1910 (or so). I like portraits since they give you an idea of color tho less of an indication of pattern. I imagine people sat on their best pieces of furniture so probably newer (at the time) and therefore period appropriate.
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Even a nice verticle stripe would look good as long as the colors stay with the period !!
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I had someone look at them to refurbish them he said it would cost nearly £600 to do them in period materials, (he defiantly wont be doing them lol), so i got an idea now of the type of cloth to use, all i am going to do with the frames is take some of the dirty wax of and re wax after in a clear one. I will defiantly enjoy doing these chairs as they only cost me £8, when they are finished i will post pictures on here for you all to see.
I would like to thank you all again for all your suggestions and ideas it has been a great help.
Best Regards to you all from England.
Tezza.
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Definitely do yourself... They shouldn't be too hard. There are a couple of examples in the projects section and if you have questions.... Just ask!
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;) Cheers oceans64 ;)
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Yes !! Chairs are fairly easy to do !! I DIY project !! Glad you are just cleaning and rewaxing !! We look forward to seeing them finished !!
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;) Cheers mart ;)
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Okay, here's my 2cents. It looks to me early 1900's, and I bet they are made in England! I have a small dinette set that was our first dining set that was similar - imported from England. Mine was from 1920's. Yours is more "elegant" in the carving on the legs but "simple" in design on the back like mine. This is a combination of styles....which was common to do during this time period! Made nicer looking furniture available to "the masses".
I believe it is a dining chair and not a hall chair.
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Thanks KC