Jul
18
Antique Furniture: Upholstery and Weaving.
July 18, 2009 |
UPHOLSTERY AND
SEAT WEAVING
IN Mr days of feudalism when the strength of a castle’s walls was the primary consideration, the ladies of the baronkil families who shivered within those cold confines early applied themselves to their needlework 1930’s rectangular drop leaf table cabinet . The resulting tapestries not only hid the rude stone walls of the primitive rooms, but also served to diminish the continuous draughts of cold air antique napoleon plaster coin reliefs . Skilled artisans who were proficient in hanging these draperies in a manner th
insured retention of their shape came to be known and valued as “up-holders (later upholsters) edwardian bookcases .
Although that branch of upholstery that was concerned with the insertion of stuffing or springs under textiles, in order to give the outer fabric a permanent form was practiced by the Egyptians, the craft was slow to infiltrate into Eoglan all later, America william birch sofa . The loose “squab” cushions provided for the backs and sea of chairs during the Jacobean period were later replaced by leather, but for utilit rather than comfort antique liberary stands . It was not until the accession of James I to the throne cf England that the hard, carved furniture of that country gave way to the comforts of padded upholstery antique table with cast iron legs .
UPHOLSTERY
In spite of the small number of tools required in upholstering, many a home craftsman has shied away from this form of furniture finishing because ofthe apparent complexity of the job sofa french 4 legs . As a matter of fact, when analyzed step by stet 0, the upholstering of an overstuffed chair or a sofa is no more complicated or difficu t than any other handicraft project requiring a modicum of care and attention longcase dutch 2009 . One of the best means of self-instruction is to take a screwdriver and a hanlill(r and carefully pry up the tacks, section by section, from an upholstered piece that has reached the stage where it must either be reupholstered or hidden antique empire or regency style mahogany bookcase .
A list of the various upholstering materials required for a variety of jobs appears below antique walnut desk on pillars . The few tools required will be described as their need is encoun tered furniture + small drop leaf table with drawers .
Hassock anglo-indian furniture - thomas hope master chair . A simple upholstery project that will demonstrate several basic principles involves the conversion of a round cheesebox or butter tub into an attractive hassock or skirted vanity stool antique rectangular dropleaf table . A cheesebox constructed to contain a wheel of cheese has the advantage of a standard diameter of z5 in scandinavian art deco furniture . on each end, while the average butter tub when upended presents a bottom of only 13 in antique rococo pedestal table . diameter french tableware antique . Both average some 14 in antique oak pedestal table rectangular with leaves . in height, but the cheesebox will probably need to be reinforced with at least three uprights, and may require a disk of solid stock at its upper (seat) end to hold the necessary tacks how high above a sideboard should a mirror be hung . Either container should be washed with a solution of trisodium phosphate or hot soapy water and thoroughly aired to remove all odors art deco china cabinet . It may be necessary to cut the butter film with benzine or naphtha biedermeier inlaid birch chest .
Rolled edge antique 16th century chestnut spain . The fundamental purpose of upholstery is to cushion the hard surfaces of a seat frame so that no sharp edges can come in contact with the occupant antique drop front desk one drawer and cupboard . A simple method for preventing this unwelcome contact is by means of a hard, tight roll of stuffing around the edges of the frame or seat to be padded antique gateleg drop leaf table with chairs . Such a roll not only softens the sharp edge it covers, but serves as a low retaining wall that prevents the displacement of the padding it surrounds antique kayseri silk carpet pictoral niche .
For the hassock under discussion, a piece of zo- or 12-oz burlap is cut so that it overlaps the round hassock top by about 6 in king george 1v tankard sheffield plate . This is tacked closely around the upper edge of the top of the hassock frame, then rolled back and filled with cotton, or other selected stuffing to form a hard roll that will bulge about Y2 in hepplewhite revival fold over dining table . beyond the seat all the way around, as in Figure 6 emile galle, orchids, 1900 .2 empire hall bench . The roll is closed by firmly tacking the pinched-in edge of the burlap to the top of the seat antique christening flatware .
Fic french word for cabinet . 6 george 11 pad foot dining table .3 bureau furniture . Cross section of upholstery american made ceramic french figurine .
The top can now be filled with stuffing, which should be thick enough to pad out the rolled edges and form a crown in the center cooking utensils used in 1935 . This is covered by a layer of thin burlap, which is tacked down tightly over the edges to the side of the hassock carved oak draw-leaf refectory table . The burlap is then covered with muslin tacked in the same manner mahogany spider leg double flap table . A layer of cotton batting placed under the muslin will provide additional resiliency cumberland action table . A piece of the fabric cover about 24 in figural silver antique candlesticks . in diameter can then be stretched over the padded top and tacked down tightly over the muslin liner, directly under the rolled edge, as illustrated in the cutaway drawing in Figure 6 gillows lancaster talbert .3 william and mary chest of drawers .
Welt mid century decor mahogany rectangle divided tray . A familiar upholstery device use(> to conceal or embellish joints betweei sections of the fabric covering is known as a “welt repaint ceramic lamp .” This is nothing more tha welt cord covered with a section of the same or contrasting material, which sewed or tacked at the seam between (in this case) the top padding and t side upholstery or skirt, as the case may be rococo music . After a piece of covering material
4 or 2 in prohibition parlor clock . wide is folded over the welt cord and closed with a seam, the material
is opened at the seam and the skirt sewed s the outer side of the lower piece, as in Figu,e 6 dressers with shelves on the side .4 antique tile painted in puce .
A pleated skirt can be cut 16 in antique 18c urns . wide
allow for a hem at the bottom, and about i i •
in gateleg drop leaf table cherry cabriol leg . long for the i 5-in glass candlesticks uk . cheesebox seat pottery epergne . Plea s
tacks sewsh-lrl to 7-1″1,5 17ap long
21″ in antique drop leaf table federal period . wide spaced at 13/ -in napoleon empire secretaire . intervals a,e
formed before the lower edge of the welt s
sewed on, and the ends left open antique silver roll top warmer . By turnh the skirt upside down over the padded seat, the other half of the welt seam can be tacked above the tacked edges of the seat fabric so that when the skirt is lowere right side out, all tacks will be concealed victorian hinge topped chests of drawers . After the pleats are adjusted, the oper ing in the skirt can be sewed up floral painted dials thomas of edinburgh .
Instead of a pleated skirt, plain tailored sides can be formed in much the same manner by using a 5o-in japanese imari 18th . piece of the seat fabric 15 in serpentine centre table mahogany . long, over a layer of cotton batting around the circular side of the cheesebox or butter tub painter dufy . The we t is sewed or tacked in place as before and the side fabric carefully “skinned” dos
to form a smooth covering kidney shape dressing table . Its bottom edge is turned under and tacked to tl e bottom of the frame, commencing in the middle, opposite the open ends, whicl are stitched together when the tacking is complete, an the sides smooth ani unwrinkled india epergne . A black cambric disk is cut large enough to cover the bottom, wh
edges are turned under and tacked in place most expensive antique glass vase .
Padding a Removable Seat inlaid biedermeier square coffee table . The simplest form of upholstery is that (f padding the board surface of a footstool etruscan pottery . Since this operation was covered in the description of the sectional stools in Chapter 2 (page 114), it is proposed to examine a webbing job for the seat of the side chair described in the same chapter Unless an unusually thick covering is to be applied, the dimensions of the remov able chair seat frame will provide for an extra -3/1,3 in marinot - acid-etched clear glass bottle and stopper 1934 . all around, which shoull be sufficient small sutherland table . Before the covering operations are started, the outer edges of
should be beveled or chamfered to protect the fabric covering antique directoire desk .
As indicated in Figure 6 18th century french occasional table .5, the seat is springless, so the webbing can be tackel directly to the upper surface of the detachable frame antique oak pedestal table rectangular with leaves . After the positions of the webbing at suitable intervals are determined, the end of the first central long -tudinal strip can be fastened in place french gesso painted 18th century console .
Webbing stretcher james 1 sideboards antiques .
upholstery project is a fundamental operation, upon whose proper application the future durability of the work will depend everest patent for two-seater sofa . The basic principle involved is that the webbing strips must be so stretched and interwoven that they will mutually compensate for single sags, while providing a stable foundation for padding or springs brass mote spoon .
This being the case, the first consideration must be a strong anchorage for all strips at both ends; that is why each one is cut to allow for folding over at the ends lighting art deco/japanese style . The end of a strip is attached to the frame by at least 3 tacks within approximately iY2 in french draw leaf dining table . of the cut end, which is then folded over inward and fastened in place with 4 or more large tacks (depending on the width of the webbing and the softness of the wood), which are driven between the first holding tacks sought after greek pottery . The strip is then carried directly across the frame and tightened with a webbing stretcher, as in Figure 6 marble leos furniture .5 wooden slant front desk antique . It is then tacked, cut, folded over, and fastened with as many tacks as the width will permit putti on dutch delftware .
Webbing stretcher holophane verlys . Whittled from a piece of -1,~,-in austrian empire furniture . scrap 31/–, in antique chippendale coffee table leaves . wide by about 7 in federal desk . Ion,-, a webbing 0 stretcher has 6 small nails driven into its working edge,
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filed to sharp point-, about i in french bedside table with cabriole legs . lone tin glaze pottery makers . As illustrated, once the sharp points are engaged in the free end of the webbing, the wooden handle is wedged in place to webbing, wedge
the webbing while it is being tacked down with the holding tacks spanish pottery 16th century . The holding free end is then folded over and tacked in place to complete the strand mythological scenes . Once th longitudinal strands of webbing are in place, the lateral pieces are interwovei through alternate strands and fastened firmly, after being stretched antique henry 2nd breakfast sideboard . The webbing is covered with burlap in much the same manner as the webbing was appliec except that no webbing stretcher is used, the burlap being tacked to the woo( surface of the seat frame beyond the webbing, and folded back american empire revival furniture .
Stuffing tableware expensive . To prevent unwelcome contact with the chair a hard roll can b attached to the outside edge of the frame before the stuffing is put on hepplewhite sofa . A >aye
of narrow burlap into which a roll o
stuffing material has been inserted i
folded back upon itself, and tacked down
as shown in Figure 6 antique sutherland coffee table .6 chippendale pinecone . If tow is used
it should be pulled out and rolled betwee
the palms to produce an even roll abou stufflqs Y4 in circular extendable dining table england . thick; rolled webbing can be prof
itably substituted 19th century cutlery pennsylvania dutch . The burlap should b
tacked in such a way that the first, o
lower series of tackheads are even wit
the outside edge of the seat, to insur that the roll itself will pad the edge vintage wooden handled three tined dinner forks .
After the roll is secured, sufficient stuffiing material is placed on the seat to produce a crown effect when the material is pressed down firmly with the hands Whatever stuffing material is selected, it should be pulled out thoroughly to make it even and fluffy antique art deco furniture black lacquer . It is then covered by muslin tacked to the underside of the frame myott son blossom . To stretch this muslin covering tightly, it is held in place by slip or loose tacking at the center of each side, with tacks that are only partly driven in rococo candelabra . Th- antique occassional table drop leaf small . muslin should be turned under at the corners, and retacked after it is stretches, tightly in all directions by stroking and holding as the slip-tacks are removed an replaced campaign chairs furniture .
The stuffing can then be regulated or redistributed evenly by sticking an icepic through the muslin and manipulating it to remove any lumps or humps french art deco walnut club chairs . The oute fabric is tacked to the underside of the frame, over and beyond the muslin english column candlestick creamware .
A Hard Edge Spring Seat european antique rolltop desk 1700’s . The use of springs in upholstery has come to be expected in not only the finest pieces of upholstered work, but also the mediu grades russian empire antiques . Three types of bases may be used under the springs, and expert opinio is divided as to which is the most desirable iron garden kidney bench . Wooden slats, in the early day-before the front and back rails of chairs and sofas were lowered, could be utilize) only with the shallower, cheaper type of springs macassar in paris . Enameled, cone-shaped spring-used with tempered steel webbing provide a satisfactory resiliency, which lasts a long as the anchoring tacks or nails antique white chamber pot . Manufacturers of stout, interlaced webbinn bases that employ deep, double cone-shaped coils, claim that this type of construction affords greater comfort 1820 antique empire mahogany dining table . As an easy transition from the removable seat described in the preceding paragraphs, it is next intended to examine the operation of installing springs in a seat equipped with a webbing base (Figure 6-7) chinese porcelain wall decoration mask history .
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The webbing is attached to the underside of a wooden frame, which can be of varying depth islamic arts ivory inlaid wood cabinet . The spacing between the webbing strands, however, must be adjusted so that each spring can be centered upon the lap formed by the crossing of the longitudinal and lateral webbing strips markings on antique vase . A frame with inside dimensions of ig in florail inlay antique dresser . by 24 in 16th century english chamber pot ., for example, can house
only six springs 4 to 5 in breakfast serving tables . in diameter camillo marcolini portrait . Therefore, in order to center the springs on the crosswise laps of webbing which is 4 in aantique*display*cabinets*com . wide, the two longitudinal strands must be spaced 3Y2 in antique creamware tankards . apart with their outer edges 3Y4 in chippendale gateleg table . from the inside edges of the long sides of the wooden seat frame kotahya pottery . The three lateral strands can be spaced at equal distance of 3 in 19th century bureau with spiral legs . The folded ends of all strips are fastened with as many tacks as the webbing and framework will accommodate drop leaf table top and folded legs .
The springs are placed in position with the bent-down ends uppermost, in order to protect the stuffing “manual wind watches” “out of fashion” . They are then sewed to the webbing laps with stitching twine by means of a 6-in occasional table . straight, double-pointed upholsterer’s needle japanese 16 century furniture . The stitching is commenced from the bottom, goes through the webbing, over the bottom of the sprint; and back to complete four double loops, the last pair nearest the next spring as in Figure 6 most valuable antique silverware .7 antique dresser with claw feet from 1800 . The stitches should be small in order to prevent undue wear, and the twine knotted, preferably after the last one of each pair of stitches, and certainly after the last of each of the four pairs, to prevent the loosening of all six springs if one stitch should break antique furniture 1800 . When the base consists of wooden cleats, large staples can be driven in to fasten the spring bottoms ruhimann table .
Tying the springs hunting chest french 18th century . After the stability afforded by the base, the most important factor in this type of upholstery is that of the proper tying of the springs british regency furniture . The hempen twine not only holds the springs in an upright position, but also provides
spring
solid support for the burlap covering, which in turn supports the stuffing prohibition style furniture . For
this reason each spring is tied with a minimum of eight knots in four directions thomas sheraton dresser .
Expert tiers employ their own time- and labor-saving methods and reduce the
number of separate pieces of twine to a -minimum original antique type galleys . The amateur upholsterer, how-
ever, will do well to estimate the amount of twine required by means of a rough
rule of thumb, such as multiplying the total dimensions of the frame by I%,
afterwards cutting the individual pieces for lateral, longitudinal, and diagonal
tying, with a minimum allowance of at least 18 in early nineteenth century german desk . at each end for “return ties cedar cassone genoa 16thc .”
In tying built-in springs it is customary to commence operations from the rear lion coffee tables dining antique .
Disregarding individual professional whimsies, the easiest method for the beginn
who is faced with tying six springs in a removable base 3 to 4 in picture frame style american empire . deep is to worl from the top of all but the outermost springs art moderne furniture inlay . The twine is laid across the tops of the three longitudinal springs, for example, with the ends thrust through the centers of the two external springs 1840 wood grained pine wardrobe . One end is knotted approximately 18 in makers of ceramic beehive honey pots . from its free end to a tack (>riven into the edge of the frame next to the spring baroque girandole .
FiG antique drop leaf table hardware . 6 vinyl red 1930’s chair .8 art deco entry door handlesets . Tying springs antique creamware tankards .
A secondary reason for tying springs is to keep them compressed to about two thirds of their expanded height so that the spring action will be limited by, and fall entirely upon, the tying cord french manner . Therefore the spring nearest the tacked end of the twine should be depressed to a height of about 7 in antique round gateleg dining tables ., with its oute, rim compressed to 6 in escritoire chest . before it is fastened to the twine by means of a clove hitch (Figure 6 scottish cabinet antique .8) early meissen figures . The long free end of the twine is then hitched or knotted across the top of the spring to the opposite side, then across to the middle spring, where it is tied with two hitches in such a manner that the tops of the spring are spaced the same distance apart as are their sewed bottoms art deco upholstery . The end of tht twine is looped around a tack driven into the frame oil the opposite side of th frame from the first tack, and the twine tightened to compress the springs properly before the tack is driven home myott son and co hanley est 1880 swing time in england china . A second tack can be added for extra security
As indicated in Figure 6 antique games chest .9, the return ties consist of knots to the outside edges that hold them down to a 6-in antique dresser from 1700 with paw feet . height vintage french lady figurine porcelain .