google.com, pub-5426958118371358, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
Petite Haus
French Country, Seasonal Decor & Design Inspiration
Uncategorized

18th Century George III Wingback Chair Upholstering Project

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

I purchased a really fun chair–an 18th century George III wingback with exaggerated wings. The curves of the wings, seen from any angle, really makes this a wonderful chair.  So now my project is–what fabric do I select?   I could use it in 3 different living/family rooms.  Colors that would go are likely to be a neutral cream/tan, blue, or red..  The 3 rooms could be one that has a country french yellow toile drape in it, a family room with brown la declaration drapes, and a living room with a coral sofa, blue would be great in there.

Finding an old chair made me wonder what it may have been upholstered with originally.  After hunting around, I found a reference Judith Miller made in one of her antique guides.  She says that originally these chairs were upholstered in grospoint or petitpont needlepoint.

So I started my hunt for pictures of what a wingback chair from the 1700’s would have looked like.  There’s a website called Furniturestyles.com that had this example. (See link below to read more)

Wing Back Chair
Furniturestyles.com

This beauty is on Ist Dibs – (click on the link to view ad.).  Interesting floral pattern.  Sort of a Jacobean influence?

Ist Dibs Chair $18,000

Another wonderful example with large bold flowers:

George II Walnut Chair, circa 1730.  Christies
More of those wonderful bold flowers.

I went to my favorite website for pictures, Liveauctioneers (yes I got permission, ok to use if I put in a link), and found this –and subsequently went to the Bonhams website.  Again, a lovely floral needlepoint.

Fantastic chair from a Bonhams auction – photo Liveauctioneers.com

So I checked out a few English antique websites and found more floral needlepoints.  I’m assuming that the backs may be replaced?

Wakelin-Linfield Antiques had this chair.  They said it is a George I period chair with most of it’s original needlepoint
A 1750’s chair with later 1800’s needlepoint.
Notice the background color is different from the other examples.
Not liking that.  At auction.

A GEORGE I WALNUT AND NEEDLEWORK-COVERED 

WING ARMCHAIR CIRCA 1715 – ($62,500) Christies.

Hmm.  An interesting departure from the other florals.
I thought that I’d check out what museums have, and found this at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. — An American chair.  I totally love this back.  The front is interesting, a geometric patten.  Date:  1758.  I find that fascinating.

Fantastic needlepoint on the back of a chair, dated Newport 1758
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 
Front of 1758 Chair at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The back reminds me of a needlepoint sofa-back – I’d just love having something like this.  Don’t you just love this.
Here’s another to die for chair with a price tag equivalent to a few houses in Iowa:
Christies Auction Nov 2010 Sold for $113,000

From the Christies catalog:

A GEORGE I WALNUT WING ARMCHAIR 
CIRCA 1720 
With associated gros and petit point needlework, the back with a panel depicting a maiden by a well, surrounded by trailing foliage and flowers, the sides and back with plain cotton, on shell carved cabriole legs with pad feet and leather castors, some reworking to the needlework, the back seat-rail replaced, restorations to the ears of back legs

Check out the detailed stitching.
Below:

A GEORGE I WALNUT WING ARMCHAIR 
CIRCA 1720 
Upholstered in associated 18th century close-nailed gros and petit-point floral needlework, the back and seat depicting classical figures, on cabriole legs with pad feet

Christies Auction Nov 2010 $55,000
Here’s one in an upcoming auction.  I have to say this is what I think most motifs are, although most of what you see is floral, I suspect that many I see in my price range (ok, not in my range, but ones I am able to see) may be later than 18th century.
Christies Nov 2011 Auction
A GEORGE II MAHOGANY WING ARMCHAIR 

MID 18TH CENTURY 
With associated 18th century figural needlework covering, the back legs later and oak…


ANYONE READING want to buy me a christmas present? !!
Judith Miller said most of the antique chairs would be figural or I assume she meant like these scenic.  I do love the huge flowers.  Given the age of these pieces, can you imagine how bright the chairs really were?  If you think about the times, I’d like to sit by the fire, curtains pulled, dark rooms, most likely, to stay warm in the winter.  A bright color would be needed, don’t you think?
So now that I’ve seen all these fabulous examples, needlepoint that is only 100 years old just doesn’t have the same look: 
This French chair with needlepoint looks like a later design.
It is circa 1900 from http://www.oldplank.com
So how has the design community reacted to wonderful old needlepoints and tapestries?  We get stuff like this. YUK in my book after seing so many wonderful antique pieces.   

From Liveauctioneers.  Don’t do this fabric.
There is another option:  Crewel fabric.  The chair below is probably the type of crewel that is available.
Chair from auction, probably not antique.
If you decide to go crewel, set the bar high.  Using a colorful crewel is definitely the way to go.  Often times the crewel is only used on the inside of the wing chair–I assume to save money as you can spend upwards of $500/yard for some of this stuff.
http://pontysporch.blogspot.com
Read her fun article on wingbacks.
I spotted this on Ebay, one of my favorite dealers who carries textiles has this in her house:  She is spot on, having found a wonderful tree-of -life crewel fabric.  Don’t you just love how the pattern fits on this chair?  Wonderful!  I would love to find something like this for my chair!
from a favorite eBay dealer:  rivervalleytextiles.  Click here to read her bio, and read about this project.  (Check out her listings, she has the prettiest pictures.  Plus  she gives you great tips on care and collecting of textiles.)

Chelsea textiles makes a dynamite option  $510/yard wholesale. 
Ochre with flower & fern
OK, so I don’t have any connections to get crewel on the cheap, haha.  So what other fabrics are an option?
After checking out all those wonderful English chairs, I thought I should check out what you see on American chairs.   I immediately thought of Colonial Homes, and how you saw two things:  plaids or damasks.  Talk about two extremes.  Both are really strong statements, I think…  Here are two plaid examples:
This is actually more historically correct–most of the chairs did not have a cushion, and if it did,
it was a thin cushion.
Another example of a blue plaid chair.
Probably more historically correct – no bottom cushion, according to other reading.
Then I read that they sat on plump pillows.  HMMM,  this is confusing.  What do you think?.

(FLAT CUSHION DIVERSION)  Here’s another chair with that flat cushion.

This chair is interesting–it has the flat cushion.  The photo is a bit blurry–
I can’t really tell if it is a tapestry or chinoiserie fabric.  Bonhams auction  
So I checked out alot of photos on historic wingbacks in the U.S.  There are alot of beautiful chairs at Winterthur, the White House, and Blair House –it seems as though damask is what is used on these expensive chairs.  I looked around on the internet, and found these beautiful chairs.
Interesting UK website 
Isn’t the chair above really awesome looking?   I think the yellow fabric really looks the best, but I am pretty gutless when it comes to using yellow.  Coral would work better for me than yellow.
The same website has all kinds of interesting wingbacks.  I thought it would give me a good visual of what a pattern damask would look like.  
Interesting channel back.  I like the soft colors.  Cut velvet is something that is actually “antique”.  
Of course if I do cut velvet, only $500/yard (guess) Lee Jofa will do.
Le Notre from Lee Jofa
But what if it winds up looking like grandma’s velvet from the 60’s?  OK, back to damasks.
Killer green chair.  But how would it look in a room? I really love many shades of green,
but this one I think would whack me over the head when I walked into a room.
Ist Dibs
I actually love this bright chair.  Great pattern.  I think the damask pattern needs to dominate the back, don’t you?
These chairs are so big, it needs a big pattern.
Ist Dibs
I thought about blue.  This one is too baby blue, I’m thinking an indigo blue.  However, I am showing this one because I like the large cartouche on the chair back, works for me.
Or you could go conservative cream:
A fabulous period chair.  Very formal.
Ist Dibs
Of course, my version would be less pricey than $30,000
liveauctioneers
OK, another rule, give up the arm covers.  I have never liked them.   No, I don’t care if the chair gets dirty.   The big problem with damask is that the “authentic” looking stuff is silk.  I am way past doing chairs in silk, unless they’re a little chair that I’m just going to look at, and never sit on. (had to qualify that)
For those who were looking for wingbacks, and got stuck reading my blog, I’ll throw in some current chairs on the market, that aren’t museum repros breaking the bank:
Hollyhock has this one:
I don’t think I’m in a “busy pattern” mood.   Could be fun in the right room.  
Jacobean fabric.  I always like the free flowing vines on Jacobean fabrics.
  Chair on http://assemblageltd.com

Below is one from Anthropologie.  It made me think, toile!
So of course I had to grab a Charles Faudree book and see what he likes.  
Plaid -hmmm.  Country French?  or too early American?  
Pierre Frey Petit Parc fabric.  A nice rich bold color.
Look no further than the front cover of Charles Faudree’s book.
I think this is a Groves Bros fabric.  I sent away for samples.
I don’t really like all toiles.  I’m not really liking the chair below, I don’t know why it seems flat to me.
apartmenttherapy.com

Red or blue would work very well as an option for my chair.  This pattern below is lovely, very Fortuny-like.
A nice large pattern works best on such a large chair–don’t go for a wimpy cartouche!
Not sure if I like the look…………..
Bright red pattern. The larger the pattern, the better.
Aspire Auctions

I do like this red pattern better………….

So what would you do.  My chair is like the one above.  I’m getting fabric samples.   Stay tuned.  Feel free to chime in on opinions.   I’m just so paranoid after the 80’s and people putting huge floral patterns on everything…but I don’t want plain linen, don’t want country check, don’t think I want velvet, saving that for the moss green upholstery job on the sofa.  I wish there was something out there that has the feel of the fabulous old needlepoints, but it doesn’t seem to exist.  I would love that!

What would you pick?

Follow:
Uncategorized

French Wire Hamper on Wheels!

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

Ever look for a stylish hamper and get tired of all the baskets?    Yesterday I stopped by Pottery Barn with my husband.  We were really just goofing off, killing time before lunch.  I spotted the cutest hamper ever and had to have it…. I like to use vintage wicker laundry baskets for clean clothes, but I’ve never seen anything with wheels!

Photo from Pottery Barn website.  

I only bought one, but I love it!  You know I always want to have new things that look old.  The Crate and Barrel might seem more functional given the narrow shape, but this one is really nice because you don’t have to bend over to empty it.  They only had one color liner, but I bought it anyway, thinking it would be easier to use it as a pattern if I wanted to redecorate.  You can get the porcelain tags that say “lights”, etc.  but I only purchased one, so I didn’t need the tag.

The only thing I didn’t like about it is that it looks like rusty wire.  I like the look, it’s just not that functional–don’t put damp clothes in it.  The really cool part is–the basket collapses flat!   I thought I’d share, as PB always seems to place one-time orders and when it’s gone, you’re out of luck.

I saw this hamper at Crate and Barrel‘s website.

It’s function, and you could roll it down the hallway if you’re like me and do 3 loads at once.  I hated those cheap looking plastic wheels and it just doesn’t have the charm of my new one!

Follow:
Uncategorized

Antique Show Find – Antique Mirror

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

A few weeks ago I attended several antique shows, Hillsborough  – Bay Area, Expo – Portland, Or.

I’ve written in the past about my love of antique mirrors.  This mirror caught my eye because of the pale robin’s egg blue in the reverse painting of swagged roses–and the swagged roses.   The frame is in good shape, the mirror may have been replaced at the turn of the century or later, but it does show signs of age to be an authentic tabernacle mirror from the early 1800’s

I did find a few pieces of french monogrammed linen for a song.  (I so periodically sell on Ebay, but am on hiatus until this whole move thing gets settled).

I will share my other finds as I have time to write.  Enjoy!

Follow:
Uncategorized

Favorite Collections: Antique Mirrors

We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.

I’ve spent many years collecting antiques, and many of my friends, especially those who are 60’s plus, passionately collect a specific arena of antiques.  There are die-hard collectors who have PATHS through their house, with so many boxes of depression glass, figurines, staffordshire (one had over 350 dogs alone!).  They don’t necessarily have all junk, some have hundreds of thousands invested.

A lesson learned in 30 years is that I am attracted to antiques that contribute to the ambiance of my home, and I become frustrated when I become OCD over a particular genre.  I had over 400 pieces of American Brilliant Cut Glass.    I finally realized I don’t like cabinets loaded with “things”, I prefer to create vignettes around the house.  So I  called Jason at Woody Auction, and he picked it up and sold it.  I’ll blog about ABCG later.

The best advice ever given to me was:  educate yourself about a particular field,  collect 5 to 7 items in that field, and move on.  Everyone says buy the best you can afford, in the best condition, with no or minimal restoration.  I have to say, while I preach that too, I don’t follow it.  Educate yourself, and if you see an item in poor condition, for 10 cents on the dollar, go ahead and buy it.  Place it in your house, and decide if you want to continue to collect.   Everyone tells you to buy from reputable dealers, but often they will pass up a piece in poor condition because it doesn’t meet their criteria.    If you’re willing to pay $79 for a table at Ikea, who cares if that cute french table has a cracked and reglued leg/ or top?  I’d rather have the $79 french table!

Tthe next time you’re visiting your favorite dealer, tell them you to call you if they find a beat up period piece of furniture. Those dealers have the contacts and have the ability to look out for things for you.  PLUS, they will also tell you that there’s been a major repair, where others may not….

It is easy to decorate with antiques and be successful–the pieces are interesting, have some patina, and even the most modern room needs an antique object in it to give it some depth.   It is NOT easy to decorate and pull together a room if you are not a decorator or designer.  For those of us who collect antiques, people always love our homes.   The reaction is very gratifying–friends love all my treasures as much as my husband and I do!  Even though I’ve helped friends out, I think my success lies in using antiques.  I don’t consider myself to be a good decorator, I just have an eye for antiques.

Antique Mirrors
I’ve always liked mirrors.  Living in the Northwest,  daylight is an issue.  We only have 60 sunny days a year, and mirrors reflect light in the home.   I find little mirrors very interesting.   There are 3 mirrors in my dining room.  They are all different.  The mirrors on each side of the breakfront are lovely. The one on the left is a tabernacle mirror, with a reverse-painted scene.

These reverse painted mirrors are hard to find in good condition. This one is too sweet for words!

The shield shaped mirror may be the oldest mirror I have.  I tend to have a weakness for anything with an eagle on it.   This mirror is interesting, the chain that you see on the front is actually the original chain that this should have been hung with.  If you are wondering what a 200 year old mirror should look like–check this one out!

The eagle below is FROM a mirror.  See, I can’t resist!

The third mirror is a typical large Victorian mirror.   You can sometimes find them with console type tables.  This one is sweet because of the grapes carved in the frame.  I have it in the dining room so guests sitting with their back to the view can see the view in the large mirror.

Dining room, reflecting view

The view is great, don’t you think!  A great sumer day with sailboats on the Columbia River.

I was in a model home and liked the two mirrors that were used in this dining room to reflect light and make the room seem larger.  Of course I don’t like the frames, but it really was pleasing to view from the entry way.

 I would love to have a pair of mirrors from Restoration Hardware instead.  They are massive and wonderful!

However, I have my share of tiny and wonderful.  The great part about tiny is that you can move them without breaking your back.

The above reverse painted mirror was an accidental purchase.  I was just checking out an online auction through liveauctioneers, and thought I’d “test” the bidding process.  I clicked “bid” on the starting price–and got it.  It was from Skinner, and I think I got it for around $150 including shipping!

There are many mirrors with gilded frames. Here are a couple of my favorites:

 The one below I plan on taking to our country house to hang on the limestone fireplace.  It is quite small, I’d guess only about 26″ tall.   This mirror gets the award for being so “over the top” with it’s carved roses.  It’s appropriate to be moved–we just planted over 100 roses there…

I totally love this mirror!    I suspect that the mirror may have been monkeyed with, but there isn’t too much damage to the gesso and carved wood roses.  The reason I think something has been done to it is the crest is a bit of a different color.  It matches the carving, but has someone refinished the rest of it?

 There mirror above is in the guest room.  I have some great Schumacher wallpaper that I put up in 1986.  I hate to “update” this room–I still love the wallpaper.  It from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art collection, a copy of a vintage velvet ribbon, as I recall.

This mirror has wonderful original wooden candelabra, I love the way they twist with you being able to view the jasper medallion through the center one.  It is quite a neoclassic theme.  Usually when I think of attached candelabra, I think of bullseye or convex mirrors.  I have a reproduction mirror, no candelabra though.  I got tired of waiting for an antique, and I thought it would be fun to get an extremely large mirror to reflect the entire room back at you.

I need to be a good blogger and dig out the inspiration photo for this one..

Another interesting mirror is a reproduction that Barbara Barry did for Baker Furniture.  It is a very deep frame, but I didn’t like the $1600 price tag.  Also, the one I saw in person had the frame a very dark ebony.  This looks walnut to me.   I recognized this as a reproduction of an antique.   They tend to show up on Ebay, and you can pick them up for around $150. if you keep an eye out.  Of course you would need to cut a mirror for it.  I picked one up about 4 years ago, and it’s still sitting in my “project” closet.

The next mirror,also a reproduction, is in my powder room.  I had planned on keeping an antique cabinet in the remodel, but the old cabinet had the marble glued to the top and it literally didn’t survive the attempts to use it.   Unfortunately it was short notice and I had one day to hunt for a new cabinet.  It was tough and I had to settle for the cabinet below–we didn’t have Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, or Restoration Hardware back then.  I did manage to pick a nice grey blue wall color, which looks fresh today.  I’m not thrilled with the candlesticks, but there you have it.  Sometimes it takes me years to get something right.

I have another reproduction mirror, this one from my Baker triple dresser.   I’ve always liked the mirror, but I really love the fabulous antique Imari urns that I have on the antique French brackets.

The reproduction French mirror was picked by my daughter, she had the foresight to go with this wonderful painted finish which is fabulous in her living room.

The mirror is huge and makes a great statement in the room.  She’s in college, so she has a few cast off items.  Not bad for a poor college student!  It beats my first living room with cardboard boxes and tablecloths on them.  She just got a large wicker basket for all of her blankets (Restoration Hardware, she reads Joni at Cote de Texas).  I think she has about as many blankets as I have mirrors….

The above Biedermeier mirror was at Clark Graves in Saint Louis.  I debated about it, and by the time I made up my mind that I had a spot for it, it was gone.  Sigh.  It is different from the rest in the collection.

Here’s my favorite formal dining room.  I love the green walls with the mahogany breakfront.  The mirror reflects the beautiful drapes made out of a chintz by Mario Buatta.  I had decided I wanted some more years later after I made these.  I called Mario’s office in NY, thinking that I would have a staff person answer the phone.  HE ANSWERED THE PHONE!!!  Anyway, he was very gracious, and I was sooo delighted to talk to him!

Back to the mirror:  I picked this massive mirror up at an estate sale.  It was a mess.  I’ve actually antiqued the gilding, because someone else had done the same and ruined the old finish.  The wood on the back of the frame weighted a ton, and was in pieces in a box.  I managed to get it for $50.  It looks fabulous with the Williamsburg sideboard by Baker.  I am not a purist, I will buy reproductions.  Antique isn’t always better when you’re looking for function.  My husband has a pet peeve of stuck antique drawers…..  I love the oval mirror over the oval bowfront sideboard.

I don’t limit mirror collecting to wall mirrors.  Keep an eye out on Ebay, there are many wonderful hand mirrors out there.  The repousse work is incredible.  Check out my fabulous linen too.  I love this piece!

  Plateaus are a great way to reflect light into a piece of glass.  This is my favorite plateau (sitting on a fabulous 19th century handmade figural Italian Pt. de Venise lace cloth.

I just picked up this mirror for my dressing table in the other house.  It’s very charming and petite.  I would guess it is half the size of any other shaving mirrors I owned.  There’s nothing like old mirrors to soften the wrinkles when you pass the big 5-0.
 
I have a pair of these mirrors.  I think they will look great on each side of our bed over the nightstands.  They are circa 1830’s, featured in an old “The Magazine Antiques”.  I need to find some fabulous lamps.  I will take my time this time!

My last purchase was this mirror above.  I thought it looked really great in the antique shop.   I was planning on putting it over a Georgian chest, but the scale was all wrong. Now I’m not happy, because I can’t find a home for it.  I especially like the little tassel carved and painted below center.  The carving is quite heavy and ornate.  What do you think of this mirror?

My dear friend Beverly had this antique mirror in her house.  It is a courting mirror, and she was so delighted to finally add it to her collection. Isn’t it adorable!  My husband didn’t like it so I didn’t bid on this at her estate sale.  Wow, am I sorry I didn’t just go for it!!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my parade of mirrors.  I went over the 5-7 item limit, but I will plead my case, I have alot of square footage to deal with.What do you think about using antique mirrors?
Follow:

From the Shop

I may earn a small commission if you purchase with these links

no products
Please note that I use ShopSense, LIKETOKNOW.it, Shareasale and Amazon affiliate links on this site. This means using them for purchases won’t cost you extra but may earn me a small commission.  Our full disclosure is available for viewing under About in the disclosure policy.
All rights reserved. Our graphics, images and text are all subject to copyright protection.