My 1880's Eastlake Chair

[ibstitchen]

This is a 1880's Eastlake Chair I bought in a Antique store for $65.00.  I wanted to reupholster it and put it in my office. The photo's show the damage I discovered and the finished project.

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Did you notice the staples?  

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There was so much damage caused by tacks from prior upholstery work there was nothing left to staple to.


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I had to cut out all the damaged wood and install an oak strip and corner support blocks.

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The chair is finished and now sits in my office.

[kodydog]

Nice work IB. You are a true craftsman.

[baileyuph]

IB it is easy to appreciate your efforts because I restored two or three chairs that were literally worn out from tack holes, like yours. 

Question:  In your rung repairs, of the tack damage over time, did you dijoint the frames?  I had to disjoint mine and saw off the wasted portion or run a rabbet to set the repair into. 

Another general question:  While working of chairs of similar period, I have had people refer the piece as East Lake while another defined a different name for the piece.  What is the best frame characteristic to determine a piece to be East Lake opposed to English or Gothic?  I have googled for this answer but just wondered what your reference is?

In restoring the finish, what did you use?

Very dedicated craftsman for sure, keep up the good work and enjoyed sharing your project.

Doyle

[ibstitchen]

Thanks Kody I appreciate the kind words!

DB.....I did not take the chair apart. The reason was that prior work on this chair all the joints were reglued so all the joints were tight.  Why the damage to the chair was not repaired I do not understand unless who ever reglued the joints did not have the tools or ability to do such repairs.  It doesn't show up in the photo's but someone did pour glue into all the damged parts you see in the photo's. How do you glue something that is not there?  I've done several of these type of repairs in the past taught to me by an old timer who was one of the best I've seen when it came to furniture repairs.  The damaged part is cut out of course and the oak strip is held into place with 4 dowles,
glue, epoxy filler if needed, and 5 brass screws.  I know there are different ways to do a repair like this but I chose this technique because I have not had any issues with these repairs.  It holds well and it saves time and saves the customer money. Now if the joints in the chair had been loose I would have taken the chair apart, made any repairs,  probably how you described your repairs.  Also, I fill the tack holes with a fiber apoxy filler. It strengthens the wood and gives you something to staple into.

Second Question.....Of course the design of this style of furniture was inspired by Charles Locke Eastlake who was an architect & writer. Some of his writings indicated he hated the design of furniture of his day. There was a period where he did design furniture but there is no proof he ever personaly built one piece of furniture and if he did and a piece was found today and had documented proof, this piece of furniture would be priceless!  Eastlake is most well known for his book, Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery, and other Details: The Classic Handbook of Victorian Interior Design, which was published in England in 1868 and covers almost all aspects of domestic living in mid-19th-century England including topics ranging from the arrangement of a vestibule to utensils for the kitchen to floor coverings and picture framing.  This book suggested and promoted a home style that was simple, attractive, and used décor made by workers who took pride in their handwork or machine work and served as a basic source for philosophy of design for hundreds of architects, manufacturers of furniture and household decor, decorators and homeowners, creating what is known as the Eastlake Movement.

At that time, interior decorating of homes was done using large pieces of carved furniture, thick upholstery, and heavy draperies that collected dust and germs and kept air and light out of the homes.  The Eastlake movement flowed in the opposite direction.
This book was published in the United States in 1872 and started a furniture reform movement that changed the way many people thought about style and health in their homes as created by furniture and decor.  As the book became increasingly popular in the United States, furniture manufacturers and carpenters took ideas and designs from the book and made what was named Eastlake Style furniture.

Because Charles Eastlake studied modern Gothic design it had an influence on his architectural designs and obviously flowed over into his furniture designs. That is probably why some refer to it as a Gothic style.

[gene]

Thank you IB for the pics and information.

Regarding the decorative tacks: Why did you space the decorative tacks, rather than running an ant trail? Is this a personal choice, a characteristic of that period piece, or ???

Absolutely beautiful work.

gene

[ibstitchen]

DB I forgot to answer your third question. Really all I did on the finish on this chair was touched up scuffs with matching color gel stain (because it sticks and easily blends in) and coat with satin lacquer.

[baileyuph]

Thank you IB.....Sure, if you found a fibre filler why not fill, file, and sand to achieve a strong surface that you can also staple or tack into.

Thanks also for the background on East Lake.  The Gothic relation is definitely related.

Your pictures are appreciated and adds to understanding.  I need to do more of the same.

Does your background include some formal vintage training and possibly certification?  Just curious.

Doyle

[ibstitchen]

DB   No, I have no certificates or formal training and I'm no expert on any one style of antique.  I've always loved to read so if I find something I'm interested in I will do the research. Eastlake is one style that I have done a lot of research on.  I know several of the antique dealers in the area so I ask a lot of questions.  Also going to antique auctions has been the best teacher.  For me it's been one of the best teachers.  It's more of a hobby for me than anything.  One of the things in life my wife and I enjoy doing together and it has been a fun little sideline business outside my upholstery business.

[ibstitchen]

gene Thanks!  Spacing the tacks was just a personal choice.  I think most of the chairs of this style that I have seen that have tacks, the tacks are spaced.  Originally I'm not sure if tacks were used at all. A lot of these chairs I've seen no tacks were used but double welt cord or gimp was used.  I think they all look nice.