When did they use horse hair in furniture?
It was commonly used in the 19th century as upholstery stuffing (such as for fabric sofas) and as covering fabric for furniture. It was almost always the fiber used to make shaving brushes.
Why is horsehair so important to antique furniture?
Horsehair, for example — used in antique upholstery up until the 19th century — is a mark of quality because it is strong, durable, and much more expensive than the alternatives. If a piece of antique furniture contains horsehair stuffing it is important to maintain its integrity, since it ultimately adds to the character and value of the piece.
What kind of seat does an antique chair have?
These armchairs typically have square seats that are situated diagonally, such that the chair can be smoothly tucked into a corner. The three legs at the sides and back rise past the seat to become part of the back and arm support, ending in a curved top rail.
What do you use to upholster antique furniture?
The hair used is most often from the manes and tails of horses and is often found in antique furniture. When re-upholstering antiques, the existing horse hair can be combined with wool or cotton to add additional loft to the piece. While not actually “hair”, feather and down is often used in upscale furniture to provide the ultimate in comfort.
Is it OK to use animal hair for upholstery?
Layered Wool Batting: Not recommended for upholstery, as it falls apart easily, which can affect the appearance of the furniture over time. The use of animal hair is one of the oldest types of upholstery stuffing. The hair used is most often from the manes and tails of horses and is often found in antique furniture.
These armchairs typically have square seats that are situated diagonally, such that the chair can be smoothly tucked into a corner. The three legs at the sides and back rise past the seat to become part of the back and arm support, ending in a curved top rail.
What makes a Windsor chair a side chair?
Windsor chairs are not strictly side chairs since some have arms and some don’t; however, Windsors do resemble certain other side chair styles. Most prominently, they are made entirely of wood. The back consists of multiple thin spindles that connect to a solid, sculpted wooden seat and an arched or straight top piece.
What kind of material is used for rubberized horse hair?
It is simply curled hair that has been coated with a rubber material (as the name suggests). You can see an example of this hair in the 1962 Wing Chair that we worked on last year. In the photo you can see rubberized horse hair on the wings and deck.
What’s the best way to identify antique chairs?
Brenda enjoys researching and writing about beautiful antique chairs. When identifying antique chairs, it’s important to have a basic knowledge of the significant design periods and the important types of chairs. A good place to start when identifying furniture is often to figure out what period it’s from.
