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Collectibles-General (Antiques)/Eastlake chair?
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Question
I recently bought this chair, because I loved the woodwork, I was told it is a Eastlake chair. I don't know very much about that, and would like to know if this is in fact true. But also, the lady said that her mother reupholstered it in the 70's, and I'd like to bring it back to it's original look, as close as I can come. Do you know what kind of fabric this kind of chair would have most likely had? Do you have an opinion on how old this chair is? The woodwork is beautiful, I do not want to change that! Thanks for your help!
)
Kelly from Grand Rapids, MI
Hi Kelly
Nice to hear from you.
This is indeed an Eastlake style chair. Very nice one too.
Here are some images of these chairs (around 40,000 LOL).
http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=eastlake+chairs&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2
Some very similar to yours.
You will see they call this a parlor chair.
I don't think anyone could tell you what was originally on the chair unless the old upholestry was intact. I imagine chairs and sofas back then where covered in a wide array of fabrics not unlike today.
Your chair as you say has been recovered and this fabric looks very nice but I suspect the original could have been a patterned material of some kind.
I am hoping you will look through the images and get an idea of what some of the fabrics are. Vintage patterns are available today as you know.
The wood appears to be walnut.
If that is the case I would like to share this info From Fred Taylor with you.
Fred is the American Furniture expert on this site and sent me this information about walnut.
"Walnut was almost impossible to obtain in commercial quantities late in the 19th century after over fifty years of exclusive use in Rococo Revival, Renaissance Revival and Eastlake. (Virtually all Eastlake was made in walnut until late in the century.) That led to the great Golden Oak period beginning around 1880 utilizing a more abundant wood."
Kelly this should date your chair for you if it is in fact walnut.
Kind Regards
Eileen
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Answers by Expert:
- Michael Andrew Wilson
- robert klein
- Fred Taylor
- Rodger Knutson
- Eileen Cronk
- Bill & Jan Berning
- Irene Schwall
- Barbara K. Acchino
- Rex Ransome
- Larry Bieza
- Anderson's Restorations-Rob Anderson
- DARWIN D. BEARLEY
- Chad Boekelheide
- The Wicker WomanŽ-Cathryn Peters
- David Burritt
- Bob Wiley
- Marc A. Hess
- Tom Novitski
- Marvin D. Miller
- Robert Barnes
- Frederic Rozier
- G Zimmerman
- Jack Freund
- Russell Barnes
- Dennis Wolbach
- David Silver
Eileen Cronk
Expertise
I can answer most questions about the repairing and refinishing of all your old furniture items (the things we call antiques). I can also give you advice on what wood items to choose and what wood items to avoid at auctions, flea markets etc. I DO NOT give appraisals on antiques as this is not my field of expertise.
Experience
I have been repairing, refinishing and of course buying old furniture for the past 30 years. On any given weekend I can be found at auction sales or flea markets searching out a good buy. I have taken several courses in this area over the years, but I find "Hands On" learning to be the best teacher. I can help you avoid the pitfalls and problems of this wonderful rewarding craft.
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