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Restoration Gallery


Victorian Gallery - Chairs Page 1

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Victorian Page Links

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This Page Features several examples of chair restorations. Keep one thing in mind - if you try this yourself first and fail, the repair likely just became more costly!

The worst things you can do is drive random nails and screws into loose parts on a chair. It will only help for a short period if you are lucky, then it will cause the wood to split around the metal fastener! Next is repairing only one spindle or rung, which makes disassembly that much harder when the chair is properly fully restored.


Stenciled Hitchcock ChairStenciled Hitchcock Chair

Stenciled Hitchcock Chair - Dog Chew Closeup Before REstorationThe work of one of our for legged friends, chews on both the rocker rail ends, and scratches on the seat. A very common furniture injury in our shop - finishes can be blended to hide or even erase many surface scratches. Filling techniques and raising of the grain help to bring out some of the minor depressions. The result, in most cases, is the damage becomes far less obtrusive, and in some cases requires conscious effort to detect if at all.

Stenciled Hitchcock Chair - Scratched Seat Stenciled Hitchcock Chair - Restored Seat Stenciled Hitchcock Chair - Restored Leg Stenciled Hitchcock Chair - Restored Leg

Carved Victorian Chair Before RestorationVictorian Chairs

These chairs were about a half step from arriving in a box. Complete with a few hundred extra upholstery tacks, this chair has definitely seen better days. Another heirloom, a possession retrieved from a family farm.

A restoration of this nature if "frame-off" style, meaning a complete disassembly of every part and piece. The original glue is completely deteriorated and has no bonding strength left. Joints must be carefully separated and all the original, and previous repair attempts, bonding agents removed.

Victorian Chair Group Photo Before, In Progress, and After

The second chair featured here arrived assembled, with upholstery intact, however almost every joint was loose. Never reupholster a chair without being sure the joints are solid. We removed the existing upholstery to reveal the frame and completely rebuilt the structure.

Everyone who has a chair restoration completed should consider a full frame restoration, wasting new upholstery on an unstable chair could be a costly mistake. Artisans always fully rebuilds every chair we restore to ensure your new upholstery is worth the investment.

Victorian Chair After Restoration - WholeVictorian Chair After Restoration - Upholstery CompleteVictorian Chair After Restoration - Whole

Victorian Chair Before Restoration - Whole Victorian Chair Before Restoration - Dry Rotting & Damage From Previous UpholstreyVictorian Chair Before Restoration - Back
Victorian Chair In Progress Restoration - BaseVictorian Chair In Progress Restoration - Back

Below is a Tiger Maple caned seat chair with a split frame rail. Years of direct pressure on a section of wood riddled with holes to attach the seat fibers gave way. Using a handful of clamps and the right glue, the chair will soon be back to useable condition!

Tiger Maple caned seat chair In Need of Restoration Tiger Maple caned seat chair - Split caning holes

All set and revitalized, this chair is now ready to be caned and back in service!

Tiger Maple caned seat chair Restored

Tiger Maple caned seat chair Restored CloseupTiger Maple caned seat chair Restored View of Holes

Louie XV Bergerie Chair Broken Leg Before RestorationLouie XV Bergerie Chair

Chairs seem to be the center of many household mishaps. This one in particular was involved in an incident involving an individual that apparently tripped and fell taking out the left front leg of this "by standing chair."

Apparently the leg had been broken before and poorly repaired with just a dowel and some staples. Unfortunately the failed left leg took a good portion of the right leg with it. The whole chair is weakened and loose so a full restoration is the best choice.

Louie XV Bergerie Chair Before Restoration Cracked Right JointLouie XV Bergerie Chair Before Restoration Back JointLouie XV Bergerie Chair Broken Leg Before Restoration Closeup

The upholstery was removed, and the chair was repaired and then reinforced with a variety of glue blocks. The broken leg was repaired, as well as the other broken joints. The various cracks and crevices were filled and the finish touched up.

Louie XV Bergerie Chair Broken Leg After RestorationLouie XV Bergerie Chair Broken Leg After Restoration & UpholsteryLouie XV Bergerie Chair Broken Leg After Restoration & Upholstery

Louie XV Bergerie Chair After Restoration Reinforced BackLouie XV Bergerie Chair After Restoration Reinforced Left SideLouie XV Bergerie Chair After Restoration Reinforced Right SideLouie XV Bergerie Chair After Restoration Reinforced Back 2

Louie XV Bergerie Chair After Restoration Repaired Leg Closeup Angle ViewLouie XV Bergerie Chair After Restoration Repaired Leg Left Side ViewLouie XV Bergerie Chair After Restoration Repaired Leg Front ViewLouie XV Bergerie Chair After Restoration Repaired Right Joint

These chairs will soon receive their new caning. Keep checking for more examples of caning restoration work provided by our affiliate!

Four Victorian Chairs - Before RestorationFour Victorian Chairs - Before Restoration Caning Back Closeup

Four Victorian Chairs - Before Restoration ArmsFour Victorian Chairs - Before Restoration Arms 2Four Victorian Chairs - Before Restoration Feet

Four Victorian Chairs - In Progress Restoration Three w/o Top LayersFour Victorian Chairs - In Progress Restoration One Down to FrameFour Victorian Chairs - In Progress Restoration Broken Leg Closeup

Four Victorian Chairs - In Progress Restoration In ClampsFour Victorian Chairs - In Progress Restoration Strap ClampFour Victorian Chairs - In Progress Restoration Back Section

Loss of legs or loose legs are an extremely common problem with chairs. Artisans specializes in reattaching or even replacing chair legs.

This chair sustained serious beetle damage and other deterioration. Restoration included reinforcement of all four frame rails, new corner blocks, and replacement of the upholstery nailing surfaces around the frame.

Victorian Arm Chair - Before Restoration Broken Leg

Victorian Arm Chair - Frame Restoration Complete Side AngleVictorian Arm Chair - Frame Restoration Complete Front ViewVictorian Arm Chair - Frame Restoration Complete Back LegVictorian Arm Chair - Frame Restoration Complete Reattached Leg

Victorian Arm Chair - Restoration In Progress - Uholstery StrippedVictorian Arm Chair - Restoration In Progress In ClampsVictorian Arm Chair - Restoration In Progress In ClampsVictorian Arm Chair - Restoration In Progress Closeup Weak Frame

This chair is an example of a situation where there is absolutely no reason to attempt to apply new upholstery to before a full frame restoration is complete.


Setae Restoration

Rush Seat Setea Before RestorationRush Seat Setea Restoration Completed

This unique setae was found in a condition missing an average of 4" on each of it's six legs. Each leg was spliced with a new section to regain the standard seating height, a few new spindles, and lots of adhesive combined to create a new life for this double seat. Refinishing, and a change in rushing took a completely deteriorated setae and returned it to functional use.

Rush Seat Setea Restoration In Progress DisassembledRush Seat Setea Restoration In Progress Assembly complete Before Finishing


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Artisans of the Valley
Hand Crafted Custom Woodworking

Stanley D. Saperstein
Eric M. Saperstein
Our studio and showrooms are open by appointment.
Please call ahead so we don't miss you!
(609) 637-0450

Fax (609) 637-0452

e-mail: woodworkers@artisansofthevalley.com
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