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Chairs + Rockers + Footstools

This page is dedicated to all our rockers, whether upholstered, painted or traditionally finished with resin varnishes.

What is important about the work is the way treatments are performed. Our techniques save the original components - even internal stuffings - whenever possible. We work with restorative techniques which are era-appropriate, and traditional finish methods; look to the Victorian Press-back Rocker for an appropriate and affordable seat replacement. Barriers are used to protect original finishes when appropriate. We mix our own true shellacs, resins, and hide glues. For more information go back to our opening page on Wooden Objects.

 

Victorian Press-back Rocker Ca. 1890

The rocker's transparent resin varnish was original, but degraded from years of repeated applications of boiled linseed oil. The rocker glide was previously broken and improperly repaired. Joints were loose. The original tooled leather seat rotted through. MPFC opened all joinery to clean and re-glue with hide glue; repaired the broken rocker glide and repaired the original finish before waxing with a protective coat. Warmed wax was allowed to cure then was burnished with wooden rags and felt blocks. A new tooled seat was replaced using period appropriate decorative nails.

Before, above, and after treatment, below.

 

Heywood-Wakefield Rocker Ca. 1890

Entire frame joinery was loose and the left-facing arm was broken and missing four barley twist arm rungs. The original finish was dinged and dirty. New barley twists were turned to replicate missing rungs. The chair was disassembled, joinery cleaned and reglued, new rungs installed, and the chair was clamped to cure level. Infill replicated the original finish on the new rungs, then the original finish was cleaned and waxed.The seat was rebuilt with hair-filled, historically accurate pod and covered with leather as per the client's wishes, secured with historically accurate decorative nails.
Before, left, and after treatment, right.

 

Heywood-Wakefield Child's Rocker Ca. 1900

Entire frame joinery was loose. The original finish was dirty. The chair was disassembled, joinery cleaned and reglued, and the chair was clamped to cure level. The original finish was cleaned and an encaustic treatment was performed.
This chair was treated as a donation to the fundraiser for Community Warehouse.
For more information visit our blog.
Before, left, and after treatment, right.

 

American Mahogany Footstool Ca. 1880

This piece had a number of severe surface conditions needing treatment. Cracked and delaminating tangential grain on moldings was causing losses. Severe cracks in legs and stretcher posed failures in the future. Damaged shellac varnish appeared clabbered and alligatored from repeated applications of boiled linseed oil, and the finish was flaking. Reparations were made then the piece was treated with a barrier as was appropriate for infill then waxed to a warm patination.
Before, left, and after treatment, right.

 

American Walnut Eastlake Cane Chairs Ca 1880

These are good examples of family heirlooms with substantial but easily repaired issues. They also had two improper previous reparations, plus breaks and loose connections. MPFC repaired degraded screw mortises and broken legs, infilled finish as necessary and the finish was cleaned and waxed.

 

Victorian Cane Chairs Ca. 1880

Our clients family Victorian Cane Chair had a shattered arm. First the arm itself was repaired.The jigsaw puzzle of pieces was restored with hardwood pins and glue. Then the arm was reattached to the chair at the back and seat, and jigs to hold arm during glue-up was created, and the arms were pinned with hardwood dowels. Cosmetic infill with pigmented wax and pigmented resin was performed, then the chair was waxed. Victorian Cane Chair Resume

 

Art Nouveau Ca. 1880

Previously conserved by Mitchell two decades ago, this time MPFC simply preserved the finish and recovered the rocker in blue silk.

 

Windsor Rocker Ca. 1880

A family heirloom from the late 19th century, this rocker
probably began life as a wicker rocker. The needlepoint was added
by the previous owners, probably hand-made in the 20th century. The finish was severely compromised, and the needlepoint
was soiled. MPFC conserved the finish, cleaned and blocked the needlepoint before reupholstering.

 

Additional pages offer specific items:

• Tables + Clocks;
• Desks + Cabinets + Chests of Drawers and other Storage;
• Painted Polychrome and Lacquer Objects;
• Visit the collection of wooden objects at the McLoughlin House.
• Visit the collection of Imperial Monterey Furniture from Crater Lake National Park
• Visit the collection of Mason Monterey furniture at the Oregon Caves National Monument (in process.)