Tag Archives: #upholsteryrestoration

MCM Wormley Circular Desk circa 1950

Dunbar created the Circular Desk, shown above, before treatment.  It was designed in the fifties by Edward Wormley, AIA, 1907-1995.  The teak desk had its original leather intact, a real find!  The desk is teak wood with built-in bookshelves, and … Continue reading

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Stickley Chairs

Above and right, the chairs before treatment. Our client had six original Stickley chairs, some of which had their original upholstery.  They have been in her family for 6 generations, bought in Chicago in 1907. We will offer thorough documentation … Continue reading

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Louis XV Settees Slipcovers

The two Louis XV Ca. 1750 Settees needed slipcovers for the summer months in the south; we created lovely tailored slips for both! (To see the treatment of the two settees, go to Two Louis XV Ca. 1750 Settees.) Tailored … Continue reading

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Two Louis XV Ca. 1750 Settees

We are going to show you how we repaired the settee from the image on the left, to the conserved, reupholstered image on the right.  Many clients do not know all that goes into the conservation of an old frame … Continue reading

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Two Third Republic / Louis XVI Bergères ca 1900

Two hand carved, French walnut, French or Belgian Third Republic/Louis XVI Bergères are our topic for this blog.  Our client contacted us about the bottom literally dropping out of their two bergères, shown above, Bergère #1, left, and Bergère #2, … Continue reading

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MINIATURE SEDAN CHAIR “VITRINE”

Our restoration of the Miniature Sedan Chair Vitrine ca 18th century was seriously limited for many reasons. The piece was a beloved sentimental family object. Shown right, the vitrine in an image taken by our client years before. We are … Continue reading

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Embellished Pillows

Several pillows were made to accompany our client’s family furniture after the design presentation:  below, images from the production process.  Pillows can make the look!   These pillows and bolsters are all hand-stitched other than the basic forms. CYLINDER BOLSTER The … Continue reading

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“Jerry Lamb” Wingback Ca. 2010

Our client purchased the wingback chair designed by Jerry Lamb, a Portland Oregon antique dealer and interior designer. We were to do a full restoration, down to the frame, with a goal of improving upon its comfort level.  We also … Continue reading

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Design Presentations

We don’t discuss design presentations often but they are a normal part of our business.  With every project we present options to our client.  They range from simple presentations of fabric and trims placed over the object to be conserved, … Continue reading

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Mognat of Paris Steamer Trunk, 4, Completion

This Mognat of Paris family steamer trunk ca 1900, has been round the world many times.  The heirs brought it to us to clean, stabilize the inner lining, create new handles, and to preserve the character of the outer trunk … Continue reading

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Mognat of Paris Steamer Trunk, 3, Inside and Outside

This Mognat of Paris family steamer trunk ca 1900, has been round the world many times.  The heirs brought it to us to clean, stabilize the inner lining, create new handles, and to preserve the character of the outer trunk … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Final Details

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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End of the 2021 + Holidays

We are happy to see the back of 2021 in so many ways! It’s been a tough couple of years, trying to do business during Covid, with shortages in staffing and materials in many vendor businesses, and also, some people … Continue reading

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Mason Monterey Club Chair, 5 Cushion Buildup

This continues several posts on the preservation of a lovely Old Wood Mason Monterey Club chair from our client’s family. To see the excavation, go here. To view the finish notes, go here. For the seat buildup, go here. For … Continue reading

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Mason Monterey Club Chair, 4 Upholstery

This continues several posts on the preservation of a lovely Old Wood Mason Monterey Club chair from our client’s family. To see the excavation, go here. To view the finish notes, go here. For the seat buildup, go here. Progress … Continue reading

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Looking Back at 2020 and Covid Delays

In hindsight, what we did to cope during the early days of Covid. We had to think of ways to reuse items that should be disposable…  It was impossible, for instance, to get gloves.  Most places made you register as … Continue reading

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Mason Monterey Club Chair, 3 Buildup

This continues several posts on the preservation of a lovely Old Wood Mason Monterey Club chair from our client’s family. To see the excavation, go here. To view the finish notes, go here. We begin the buildup by installing new … Continue reading

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Mason Monterey Club Chair, 2 Finish

This continues several posts on the preservation of a lovely Old Wood Mason Monterey Club chair from our client’s family. To see the excavation, go here. The original Old Wood finish is deteriorated. If the finish were in good condition … Continue reading

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Mason Monterey Club Chair, 1 Excavation

This begins several pages on the preservation of a lovely Old Wood Mason Monterey Club chair that has been in our client’s family. It has been reupholstered once with elk hides, but the original cushions are intact. As we uncover … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Upholstery Buildup, Back and Arms

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The textile was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Upholstery Buildup, Seat

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Frame Reparation

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Cleaning Textiles

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. Be sure to run your cursor over images … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Finish

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above.  We … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Excavation and Patterns

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above, though … Continue reading

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Mognat of Paris Steamer Trunk, 2, Prep Work

This Mognat of Paris family steamer trunk ca 1900, has been round the world many times.  The heirs brought it to us to clean, stabilize the inner lining, create new handles, and to preserve the character of the outer trunk … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles, upholstery, waxes, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mognat of Paris Steamer Trunk, 1, Assessment

This Mognat of Paris family steamer trunk ca 1900, has been round the world many times.  The heirs brought it to us to clean, stabilize the inner lining, create new handles, and to preserve the character of the outer trunk … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles, upholstery, waxes, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Assessment

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above, though … Continue reading

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Deadlines: A Re-post from Kate’s Art Site

Kate has a site where she posts about her art journaling. Of course, our work is often a subject… This is from her post at  dkatiepowellart. Deadlines are stressful, and partly it is because of my age; I am simply … Continue reading

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Crown Chair, Ca 1955, Los Angeles

The chair was made in Los Angeles, California, by the father of our client. He was an  upholsterer at the Crown Company in downtown lalaland. All the innards were cleaned and restored exactly as they were originally. The new showcover … Continue reading

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A Folding Journal of an MPFC Project

Guest post from Kate’s Art Blog, dkatiepowellart. I don’t enter many competitions, but the Sketching Work competition for the Centre for Transformative Work Design out of Perth AU was easy for me as I sketch our lives and work quite … Continue reading

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Thursday Throwback: A Family of Lawsons Graces the Farm

This is our continuing Throwback series where we post items that were in our studio before we had the blog. Grandpa’s Lawsons are born again for an orchard in Southern Oregon; Grandpa was on hand for delivery day, and even … Continue reading

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Ode to the Upholsterer, Reprise

He’s stuffed a chair on every street, or hassocks on which to put your feet. A fainting couch for Ms Récamier, looking Grecian but really fey. A modern Egg for Madmen there, Took ten thousand hand stitches to be fair; … Continue reading

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Steelcase Redeaux

Throwback Thursday, my all time favorite showcover on a vintage Steelcase Executive Chair. Internals conserved properly. Showcover total fun!  ©MPF Conservation.  May be printed for your own use. May be reposted if our url +copyright is used as reference.

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To the Dogs!

They raise Labrador Retrievers; they want nice furniture; slips are the answer! These slips are made of strong sanded cotton twill with gingham accents peeking out, and a touch of feminine hiding in the back! All easily removed and sent … Continue reading

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Purple Paulin Chairs

Two Pierre Paulin Chairs needed full conservation: Innards were failing, and the show cover was in poor condition.  The painted finish was not original (previously repainted).  The finish was badly gouged, and was missing altogether in places. We conserved the innards, … Continue reading

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Windsor Rocker

A sweet mid-nineteenth century faux bamboo Windsor sported touches of gold paint in the crevices of the “bamboo”. We do not know if it was original or added later. The chair had no breaks, and he joints were quite stable.  … Continue reading

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American Mahogany Seignouret Chair

The Seignouret chair appears to be an actual Empire striped mahogany “gondola” chair made by Francois Seignouret in Louisiana circa 1830-1850, though it could also be a later version of the signature chair (design attributed to Seignouret) created by Prudent … Continue reading

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Throwback Thursday: Backgammon

A military couple had traveled all around the world with this backgammon set. When they retired they finally wanted the worn board restored. Simple in some ways, it had to be accurate and smooth. We excavated the old, conserved the … Continue reading

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Throwback Thursday: Child’s Rocker

This week may be children’s week, as I am posting a throwback to a child’s rocker as well. The mother grew up with this rocker, but had made a new needlepoint for the seat. She wanted the old needlepoint cleaned. … Continue reading

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Heirloom Child’s Chair

The chair came to us through the heiress (hereafter called LB) to the Frank Crowe Mason Monterey Collection. The sweet chair was made by her grandfather… Someone had recovered it, but thankfully the original stuffings were intact! She wanted it … Continue reading

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Planter’s Chair: 8 Showcover

We are properly conserving a French-made Planter’s Chair, circa 1860. (You can begin here, if you like.) We’ll follow the chair through excavation to the new show-cover. We left off in the last posting with upholstery buildup of the inside … Continue reading

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Planter’s Chair: 7, Buildup, Tufted Back and Seat

We are properly conserving a French-made Planter’s Chair, circa 1860. (You can begin here, if you like.) We’ll follow the chair through excavation to the new show-cover. We left off in the last posting with inside back excavation. The inside … Continue reading

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Planter’s Chair: 6, Excavation, Back

We are properly conserving a French-made Planter’s Chair, circa 1860. (You can begin here, if you like.) We’ll follow the chair through excavation to the new show-cover. We left off in the last posting with the Buildup of the Seat. … Continue reading

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Planter’s Chair: 5, Buildup, Seat

We are properly conserving a French-made Planter’s Chair, circa 1860. (You can begin here, if you like.) We’ll follow the chair through excavation to the new show-cover. We left off in the last posting with frame and finish conservation. Mitchell … Continue reading

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Planter’s Chair: 4, Reparation and Finish Work

We are properly conserving a French-made Planter’s Chair, circa 1860. (You can begin here, if you like.) We’ll follow the chair through excavation to the new show-cover. We left off in the last posting with the excavation of the seat. … Continue reading

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