Posted 13 years ago
KatharineC…
(5 items)
Belonged to my Mother in Law who loved it but the finish is gone..not sure if I should paint or if it is of any value (other than memories)..with the original finish..I love it also and am keeping for our granddaughters ..
Comb-back windsor chair, most like a mid 1900's reproduction. If you could add some photos of the bottom of the seat and some other joints we could probably help you a little more. The early and original windsor chairs always painted in a solid color and not stained. They used milk paint in "natural" colors such as green, red, black and white. Natural elements were used to color the paint, for example, animals blood was used to make "Indian Red". Also, the seats of early Windsor chairs were made from one solid piece of wood. Another way to ID very early American chairs is by the type of woods used. Cabinet-makers would never use one type of wood, instead they would use what was available to them and mix woods.
I love you chair though, I am a fan of this style!
Posting more photos BHock45 confirms your thoughts as it being a reproduction windsor. I ask your thoughts on whether to have refinished or paint or use as it ..it is getting "flaky"...
Oh yes, very nice pictures. Thank you for updating. I wonder if it is a Nichols and Stone Repro. I have seen very nice ones like this. As to your question about refinishing. "Refinishing" a chair is a difficult process involving dangerous chemicals to remove the old finish. Being a reproduction it may not be worth a professional restoration, unless it is a true family heirloom.
If it is flaking, I would scrape it with a plastic (not metal) putty knife, and simply paint over it. Sanding and chemical stripping are both long, dirty, and dangerous projects. I love to use milk paint to refinish chairs. If you take a look at the links below you could see some chairs I "refinished" by simply scraping, and painting over the top. Best of luck!
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/79892-slat-back-chair-restored-with-splint-and
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/79890-english-ladder-back-restored-with-shaker
Thank you so much for the tips re: refinishing..I will take your advice and do as you suggest..and enjoyed your beautiful pieces. (There are no labels or makers marks on the chair so forever to be an unknown but loved piece. )
Awesome! Enjoy and thanks for sharing!