Plastic Chair Toys

I like to leave a plastic toy inside each chair I reupholster.

I've being doing it for years. I do it for, you know, philosophical reasons.

I like the idea that the next person to reupholster the chair will find it and crack a smile.

Because quite apart from the glamour of the finished product, upholstery is a tough and lonely trade. It's work. And although (at least in my case) you can play loud, ugly music all day, or listen to the test match, I imagine finding a plastic toy in the chair you're stripping will help make it a better day than otherwise.

Particularly if it's an amputee Mexican bandit like the one above - due to be found in about 20 years.

So why not, eh?


Anyway, here's some more what I done:

 

Iron Back Chair in Bute tweed

An 1880's iron back armchair reupholstered in Bute tweed 2726.

Iron back chairs have to be reupholstered in the traditional way and take ages to complete but what a pleasure when they're finished. Because each stage of the back and arms have to be stitched to the next (hessian, hair, calico, topcover) and nothing can be tacked to the frame (back panel included) there is always a certain looseness and hand-stitched aspect to the finish - I love this. I don't think traditional reupholstery should be perfect - of course it should be done with great care and as much skill as is available and it should be done properly, with quality materials - but it should look handmade, because, well, it is.

As armchairs go this is a real beauty. Just look at the angle of the back legs, I can't take my eyes off it.

Once again the Bute tweed suits it perfectly - no pattern to interrupt the curves and buttoning but plenty of strong colours to keep things interesting and luxurious. Once again I have to thank my customer for choosing the right fabric, it makes it such a pleasure to do the work.
I just wish I knew how to take photographs...

...because this is the actual colour of the fabric.

Good job I chose upholstery and not photography eh?


This was a commission.