So, I'm starting to do a little research on the pair of 18th century ladder back chairs we picked up this past weekend and I figured, why not blog about my findings! And if I'm really lucky, maybe this post will be seen by an antique chair expert and he/she will tell me everything there is to know about them! Bueller? Bueller?
 |
| Pay no attention to the sparse turf. |
One thing I know for sure about these chairs, is the seats have definitely been redone in the past 50 years. And if I had to guess, probably more recently than that. But I will say this, whoever (or is it whomever? I never can get that right!) "reupholstered" these seats did an amazing job!
The black and white canvas webbing are woven in such a way that they creating a striking checkerboard pattern that is (in my humble opinion) just as modern as it is primitive. The use of "Shaker Tape", as it's come to be known, was popular in the Shaker communities. The canvas product was preferred over rush (either twisted paper fibers or a grass-like material that's been twisted into a rope-like appearance), wood splint (flat lengths of wood soaked in water for pliability), or cane (inner bark from the trunk of a rattan palm woven into an intricate honeycomb pattern) because of it's functionality. It's pretty easy to weave, it won't dry out or break, nor will it snag your favorite Kate Spade dress! Not that Shakers and Quakers were very fashion forward, but you know.
Don't you just love the checkerboard effect on these chairs?!
Don't you just love the checkerboard effect on these chairs?!
 |
| Detail of natural canvas and black dyed canvas Shaker Tape weave. |
 |
| I love how the underside is finished too. |
Now I just need to figure out more about the chair frames.
Who made them? When were they made? How were they made? With what species of wood were they made? So many questions...
Back when I studied Interior Architecture at Kansas State, one of my furniture design courses required us to memorize 50 species of wood. I nailed it back then, but I can hardly tell cherry from mahogany anymore! Point being, I've yet to determine the wood used to construct these chairs.
We were told these chairs came from Massachusetts. While, I'm not sure that's accurate, I would definitely place their origins in New England.
Okay, so I guess I'll get back to y'all with the rest of my findings. I've clearly got more research to do.
Thanks for reading!
 |
| What a pair! |
 |
| Urn finials adorn the seat back posts centering 3 molded splats. |
 |
| Detail showing of the years of abuse, I mean character. |
If you have any info you're willing to share with me regarding these chairs, please head over to our facebook page: facebook.com/oldsouthernsoul and give me the goods!
Best,
Angela
P.S. Head over to www.wickerwoman.com for more information on some cool, old school techniques!
