Expert: Mark H. Miller - 2/20/2011

Question
QUESTION: I inherited a chair which I assume has horsehair stuffing in the back (an upholsterer indicated that this is the case, but he seemed pretty young to me!), and a down seat cushion.  It was also last 'upholstered' by having a custom slip cover made.  In the process, they added padding to the arms where none had been ... nailing it into the gorgeous wood!  

I've been told that the nail holes can be filled, although they won't be invisible.  I'm OK with that ... I love this chair and it's very comfortable.  But the horsehair back ... the upholsterer says that he should keep it and just put the new fabric on top, but this chair was not cared for, and the previous owner had dogs, cats, etc.  I can't imagine that this would be sanitary.  How do I retain what's valuable and yet sanitize it for the present?

ANSWER: Hello Alice,

If the hair stuffing in the back is white it is hog hair - which is the best, if it is black it is horse hair - not as good.  Either way it is a haven for dust and in some cases bugs.  It is never sanitary.  However, it is also well hidden behind cotton batting and padding and not that much of a concern unless you have allergies I would leave it alone.  There is far more dust inside the seat coil springs and arm cavities.  

The upholster who said that the nail holes can be filled and won't be visible is correct,  although the nails should never have been placed into the decorative wood - they were - so be it - that's why antiques look antique - they were damaged at one time by use and some of it careless and foolish.

What it all boils down to is do you trust the advise of the upholsterer to whom you trust your project.  From what I can see in your picture your chair appears to be in better than average shape,  I'm sorry you didn't remove more of the slip cover.  If that is the case then I would just re-upholster,  make certain the upholsterer removes the existing fabric,  adds new padding which is all cotton batting and not Dacron batting,  replace worn burlap,  reties the seat coil springs if necessary and re-glues the frame where it is loose.  If your upholsterer is young - so what,  I have fired many old-timers and done very well with young upholsterers - the young upholsterer may be third generation upholsterer.  I would ask for references and ask the see finished projects and projects still under way.  In the end when selecting an upholsterer it is based a great deal on trust,  an upholsterer sells a promise and not a project that can be seen and touched.  Once done it can't be returned so I would place the greatest emphasis on researching what an upholsterer has done for other clients and if he or she is good giving references should be no problem.

I hope this helps,  please don't hesitate to contact me if you need further pointer.

Mark Miller.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, Mark!  If the stuffing is horsehair, is it not worth reusing, given the inherent dust?  I'd also think that, given the age of the chair, dry rot would be a concern in keeping the existing cover which is over the stuffing.  Also, can the down cushion be cleaned, or do upholsterers usually just recover?

Thanks again for your expertise.  

Alice

ANSWER: If the stuffing is horsehair, is it not worth reusing, given the inherent dust?     
 If it were my chair I would remove the horse or hog hair since either will have a huge amount of dust to which many people are allergic - and I would replace the hair with H.R. (high resilient) foam and Dacron batting.

I'd also think that, given the age of the chair, dry rot would be a concern in keeping the existing cover which is over the stuffing.  
No,  dry-rot is not a concern with furniture frames unless they were stored in a very damp basement for example - there would be an odor of mildew which you did not say so I don't think you need to worry about that.

Also, can the down cushion be cleaned, or do upholsterers usually just recover?
Down itself has an indefinite life,  but the down ticking does not,  you should not have a down cushion cleaned, if it has a terrible odor get rid of it,  if there is a large amount of feathers leaking through the down proof ticking then the down proof ticking should be replaced.  Cleaning the existing downproof ticking will remove the wax in the ticking and feathers will start leaking through - therefore it is best not to have a down cushions cleaned.  Adding a new layer of down proof ticking over an existing down cushion is, in my opinion, a good idea if the cushion is more than 10 years old.  

I hope this helps.

Mark Miller.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Again, your expertise and time are so appreciated!

In your first reply, Mark, you indicated that it should be cotton batting, not Dacron; in the second reply you indicated it should be Dacron.  Is this different because the first reply indicated that the horsehair could be left intact and it would be going over the old whereas the second scenario was to rip off the horsehair and replace with foam and then Dacron batting?

So much to think about ... before even getting into the turmoil of what the fabric should be!  Would that you were on the East coast!

Many, many thanks!

Alice

Answer
Hello Alice,

Exactly,  if you are going to keep the existing stuffing then the upholsterer should use cotton batting,  if however, you replace the existing padding with new foam, then Dacron will be a better choice over new foam.

I'm glad you caught that,   an A+ for paying close attention :-)

Mark Miller.