From Rags to Riches
"Go around the block again .. .. .. .. I think I saw something." After four sharp and swift right turns we were back at the scene of a crime. Sticking up in an overflowing dumpster were four battered, blistered yet intriguing legs of a chair. The piece was a total wreck; the remaining upholstery was a mere shadow of it's once sumptuous splendor, the back was cracked in half allowing the chair to actually fold up on itself and the finish on the exposed wood was absolutely non existent. Despite it's tattered appearance, we saw the faint heartbeat of a once beautiful object and decided to make this a personal project. It was a marvelous traditional style chair; channel back, rolled arm, subtle wing and flirtatious profile. We adopted this piece on-site with the intention of demonstrating how eye, talent and an artistic expression of craftsmanship can transform a discarded relic into a comfortable and strong decorating statement.
Starting at the Beginning
Everything on this chair needed to be replaced save the frame members -- they needed repair. The upholstery was removed and the frame was carefully examined, glued and mended. When we were finished, the back no longer folded in half and was strong and solid again while the arms were secure and tight as the day they were originally made. The legs and wooden ornamentation on the wings were stripped, sanded, stained, oiled and waxed. Finally we were ready to build up the frame with springs, cotton, foam and fabric. We sized the springs appropriately to the frame and tied them eight-ways and then began to add layers of cotton and foam to create the profiles for the tight seat and arms. We decided early on that we would not use decorative nails on this chair as the overall frame seemed much too delicate to receive this heavy treatment. Instead we employed a more tailored and slimming approach by emphasizing the lines of the chair and downplaying the construction characteristics. By doing so, we created a piece with a mellifluous flow and a subtle yet demanding presence.
Channeling the Past
The largest challenge on this chair was designing the channels for the back and then deciding how they would fit into the wings. The original upholstery was rotted and ripped and gave us insight into how the original manufacturer fit the channels to the back but we were still left to create the pattern pieces and "tipping" the design in the fabric so the subtle stripes would run parallel to one another across a curving back plain. The inner channels were straightforward once the taper of the channel pattern piece was determined. The two outer channels were more difficult as there was nothing to hold them in place where the channel met the wing. The two blended into one another. The key to making this work was exact and careful control of the fabric as it was attached to the frame. The end result is a smooth, uninterrupted flow of fabric from one side of the chair to the other in a rhythm of undulations and a play of light and shadow.
A Plethora of Details
Every square inch of this piece seemed to reveal an interesting detail or a mesmerizing confluence of line. Even the frame was built to assist in the application of cotton and fabric to arrive at the final silhouette; a certain sign of a well designed and thoughtfully executed chair. The further we progressed on this project, the more amazed we were at our marvelous good fortune to have passed that dumpster on the side of a street on a hill in San Francisco.
Once we completed all of the detail dictated the chair's design, we decided to add a final detail of our own by designing a small back pillow. We found a lovely embroidered silk that picked up the same soft blue in the fabric and added 42 yards of ribbon in a hand-fashioned looped trim. The two work beautifully together providing pleasure for one's eye and comfort for one's back.
From Rags to Riches
What started as a broken and sad little chair that had been tossed out for landfill metamorphasized into a finished piece with tremendous yet quiet power and strength. While our efforts were considerable, we were able to coax the beauty out of this frame; beauty that had been hidden for so long through neglect and obvious abuse. When bones are strong and design intrinsic, any chair can become a centerpiece around which a room revolves. All it takes is a critical eye to see what can be, and the patience and care to bring that potential to life. This piece traveled a long distance; from rags to riches - from a dumpster to a welcoming home.
