Chairs, Seats and Cushions, pt 3

This one should say Chairs and Sofas….

Another aspect of the chair seats I feel we need to look at is cushions. Take a look at what is said in The Workwoman’s Guide about cushions. (I’ll admit, I hadn’t thought about cushions to take to church.) Cushions and coverings not only made the chairs and sofas more comfortable, but protected them as well.

When chairs and sofas are fitted up with damask, merino, stuff, horse hair, or other material that does not wash, they are generally covered with Holland, chintz, or glazed calico, and protects them from dust and dirt, and are easily removed, when required for company. Holland covers are the most durable, but look cold; chintz to fit the chair or sofa, with or without piping at the edge, and with loops fastened down by passing one of the strings through the three loops, and making it tie. Ottomans generally have the covers to fit along beneath the edging of wood, in which case, they must be pinned to the stuffing with very strong pins, which from their length are called sofa pins.

Arm Chairs

It is a good plan to make a kind of case of Holland to fit half way down the cushion, A B C D, which protects the cover from being soiled by the head, on leaning back. Each arm chair should have two or three of these cases for wash and wear.

Church Basses

Flat circular ones are often in use. Sometimes straw ones are covered with green or crimson cloth, and look very neat. Basses may be filled with mill-puff, straw, chaff, bran, or bits of cloth, &c. Some persons prefer a simple cushion or flat pillow to kneel upon, in which case, they may be filled with feathers.

Church Seats

Church pews are generally lined with cloth, and fastened by brass nails andn binding laid on. The cushions, are oblong, and made like a very soft mattress.

They have pieces of cloth, bound round and sewed to them in front, to give an air of comfort and neatness  to the seat. The ground or floor is generally covered with a drugget of the same coulour as the lining of the seat.

This color plate from Peterson’s shows two colorful sofa cushions.

This patriotic cushion comes from an 1850 Godey’s rather than one during the CW.

This is a crochet cushion from Petersons in 1862.

 1857 was a popular year for chair and sofa cushions in Godeys with these three included:

Chairs, Seats and Cushions, pt 2

Based on the number of color plates found in Peterson’s and Godey’s in the 1850s and 1860s, I would like to assume there was some level of popularity in making chair seats. This chair seat shows the curved edge shape generally seen with some variation in the publications. Worked in needlepoint, it has a floral pattern that covers nearly the entire seat.

While the previous seat is symmetrical, this chair back is asymmetrical in its floral design.  

This seat, done in braid, is from Peterson’s 1857. You can see the notches at the top where the seat will fit into the wooden construction of the chair. I would like to find extant examples of a braided seat to see how well they did or did not wear.

When I saw this faded, horribly scanned seat design, I just had to share it. I pieced it back together from Google Books’ edition of Peterson’s. The symmetrical geometric design has a sorta southwest feel to me. Now, I highly doubt that is how those originally reading the magazine, looking at this illustration would have seen this though.  

 This chair cover also has the distint shape of the chair’s seat.

Chairs, Seats and Cushions

 A while back I was asked to look into the seats for chairs, especially folding chairs. It has been quite some time and technically I just have a bunch of notes. Over the next several posts, I’ll be sharing some of these notes in a roughly organized format. We will look at the original seats on chairs, illustrations for homemade seats and cushions.

Let’s start by looking at the seats and backs on some original folding chairs. Each of these chairs are appear to have their original seats and backs. The chairs date from the 1860s through the end of the century.

This faded and worn seat comes from my later century chair. Notice the wreath central design and floral corner motifs. The use of a central motif surrounded by corner or border motifs seem to be fairly common for these chairs. The seats and backs seem to mostly be either tapestry twill woven similar to an ingrain carpet or done in needlepoint.

This chair, circa 1870-90s, has a duo of lilies as the central motif. The borders are a combination of geometrics and florals.

This chair, the one of this set closest to the CW era, has a central design with a floral-esque border. You will notice that the red color can be found in each of the chair seats and backs here. I do not know if this was because this was a common color or if this color just lasted well.

These scenic designs are found on an Eastlake style chair. I wish I could get a closer look at this one to determine the construction method. The lines in the edge of the red appear to be carpet-like.

 

 

IMAGES ADDED…..

 

Folding Chairs –

With the multitude of interest lately regarding folding chairs (thank you readers for your comments and emails), I decided it would be nice to share the original article written for the Citizen’s Companion. This article was from 2008. It is here as a PDF. 

I also need to share some chairs with you. I somehow didn’t post photos of the chair Dad had for me when he passed. (This is probably because the chair got packed before I really got into blogging.) I have a couple photos of it. The other chair I still need take photos of is the one mom recently found for me.

Here is the one from Dad:

I have yet to spend time really looking at this chair. It does need a back material. But, wiht the seat likely being original, I have to think about whether that back will get replaced or not. I do need to take photos of that seat to share.

Child’s Folding Chair

A few weeks back while I was on a quick search for lace, I stumble across this adorable chair. I was excited to find it but more excited that a friend of mine wanted it for her children.

This solid little chair has a side X construciton with a second pivot for the back of the chair.

I’ll add some more information on children’s chairs as I can.

Folding Chairs

 Here is some information that will hopefully help if you are considering a folding chair….

This 1855 Patent is one of the earlier 19th century folding chair patents. It has a simple side X construction with a slight curve in the back to leg piece. The seat is solid with a cushion set in.

This chairhe New York State Museum, is circa 1866. This walnut chair was made in NYC by B.J. Harrison And Company. The museum’s descriptions is as follows “32 1/2 x 16 x 17 in.  Curved crest rail above two side rails ending in molded rear seat rail. Beneath this are two dowels fitted to another molded rail. Oriental-type rug seat (not original).” The seat folds up with a side X pivot while the back folds down. A similar chair construction can be seen in this  1863 Patent.

 This circa 1860-70 chair is Marta Vincent’s. It has been repaired and recovered from the naked state in which it was found with the finish was completely worn off and the carpet seat was in tatters. The back splint has been replaced. The seat is now a piece of ingrain wool carpet supported by canvas.

Martha’s above chair is a similar folding shape as the chair in this post war photograph

The shape of this chair’s curved pieces making the side X construction seen in many full-size chairs attributed to those who worked with Vaill. This construction can be seen in this  1870 Patent 1. Added March 15th, 2010: A reader contacted me about a chair coming from a private collection. She has been kind enough to share this lovely child’s folding chair which looks much like the one in the photograph above. This chair has a great glowing patina. Notice the darker areas where the chair would have been picked up and carried when folded. The carpet seat is in good condition with deep reds and greens in a large, well centered design. The curves of the legs tend to suggest it was made by someone who worked with Vaill. The back piece is curved nicely while appearing quite solid.

 Circa 1870-90. This chair was manufactured by Edward W. Vaill. It is a side X construction with a second pivot point on the back and a hinge on the lower back leg. The chair has an incorrect material. The chair should have a floral or scenic design done in tapestry. The wood, under all the paint, is a hard wood, likely a walnut. Notice the curves in the leg and cross support piece. Also notice the turned finials on the top. The label for this chair would be found on the front cross runner underneath the fabric. The construction of this chair can be seen in this 1875 Patent by Wakefield, assingnor Vaill. This is a similar patent from  1876.

 This chair is Marta Vincent’s. I think it could have been made between 1863 and the 1880s. It has the original red carpet, which she has supported with canvas underneith. It appears to have a back similar to the back in the Vaill chair above. The back to front leg cross piece has a slight curve while the other leg begins to show an S curve. It appears to be a walnut. Notice the location of the splits in the seat. These weaknesses are very much at risk of further damage if not supported.

 

 This rocker folding chair is Marta Vincent’s. When Marta found it, it was in pieced needing to be put back togehter. The seat and back are a vintave ingrain wool carpet with the sear supported by canvas and the outside back is covered  in brown cotton sateen similar to the method of the original covering on the red one. 

 This chair is as it was found. Though nicely intact, the seat and back may not be original. The turning and finials on this chair are quite different then the other chairs seen here. The closest patent I’ve found for dating is this 1881 Patent with a far more complex construction.

 

This Chair is held by the Brooklyn Museum. It is attributed to P. J. Hardy as the maker while Hunzinger was likely the designer based on the style and the metal tag Hunzinger label. The Museum’s description is “Folding chair. Ebonized wood with gilt incised decoration, metal hardware, and original upholstery. Turned gilt incised members that terminate in small ball pads intersect at mid-point on sides, secured by small metal rods on which they pivot and allow folding action. Identical turned and gilt incised stretchers connect lower front and back legs. Dark red plush upholstery with central vertical machined floral tapestry panel. Multi-colored fringe to front and sides of seat secured with domed metal tacks. Slung narrow woven textile strips with red key pattern on white ground form arms attached to front and rear stiles with metal attachments; the attachment on back stile has pressed head of putti. Movable black metal members hinged to underside of seat at sides and attached to upper front legs below seat to secure chair when open for seating. CONDITION – Original upholstery faded and distressed, but intact.” For more on Hunzinger’s furniture, please visit this Hunzinger blog.

 Late 19th century folding chair with an Eastlake feel.

 

 

 This is the mystery rocker. I’ve found several reproduction chairs like this in images. But, I have not yet found what they are a reproduction of or the documentation for the style. I’ve found a similar seat and a similarish construction, but seperate.

 21st century chair.

My Publications

Nineteenth Century Shawls (e-book)          October, 2007

From Field to Fashion (booklet)                  February, 2006

 

Published in The Citizens’ Companion

“Looking at Looking Glasses”                 April, 2009

“Serving 19^th Century Style                      March, 2009

“Keeping Warm This Winter”                 January, 2009

“Carrying Your Impression”                    December, 2009

“Folding Chairs”                                       November, 2008

“Paper Flower from Godey’s Lady’s Book”       August, 2008

“Types of Buttons” 2 parts                       June & July, 2008

“What’s Under Foot” Carpets & Rugs    April, 2008

“Doll and Ball Toy Patterns”                   March, 2008

“Shopping For Millinery”                         January, 2008

“Needle-books, Sewing-Cases and House-wives”          November, 2007

“Straw Hats”                                             August, 2007

“Social Movements Series” 10 parts       February, 2007 thru 2008

“Bonnet Ribbons: A Survey”                   April, 2007

“An Introduction to Introductions”          December, 2006

“A Study of Trunks”                                 December, 2006

“Choosing a Shawl for Your Living History Impression” October, 2006

“Wearing a Hair-Net”                              August, 2006

“Straw Bonnets”                                       June, 2006

“Shawls: An Article of Dress”                  February, 2006

“To Net or Not to Net”                             December, 2005

 

PDF Resources on the Mite Society Website

            “Anatomy of a Bonnet”

            “Anatomy of a Dress”

            “Books and Paper”

“Creature Comforts” (Those things that make an event more comfortable)

            “Dining and Entertaining”

            “Etiquette & Manners Resources list”

            “Event Prep Cheat Sheet”

            “Fabric Rosettes”

            “Godey’s Scissor’s Case”

            “Guidelines for Civilians”

            “Keeping Your Hands Busy”

            “Introductions to Introductions”

            “Making Ribbons”

            “Packing and Storing”

            “Small Containers”

            “Soldiers’ Aide Acquisition and Distribution”

            “Tents and Camping”