CHAIR REPAIRS IN THE GUILDFORD AND DORKING AREAS – A FULLY RESTORED AND RECOVERED CHAIR
Of all the many combinations of furniture and antiques that we receive for repair and restoration at our workshops in Shere, it is chairs that are the most common.
Frankly, this is not all that surprising; given the very tough, long term usage that chairs get. Equally, the construction of chairs is such that they are, in many ways, innately delicate objects. They are assembled from many different pieces, all of which are doweled or interlocking, and, if just one joint gives way or loosens, then very quickly thereafter other joints also untighten. The whole chair then becomes unstable; with every likelihood, that one piece or another will either break altogether or come away from its fixing.
Obviously, the best time to bring a chair in for repair is before anything breaks or the joints throughout the entire chair start to come apart. However, normally, the joints of a chair loosen over a long period of time and it is only when the chair has become very unstable that it is brought to us.
IT IS VITAL THAT CHAIRS, ONCE RESTORED EXACTLY MATCH THE WHOLE SET
Repairing a chair is rarely straightforward and it is very unusual that our work ends in just re-gluing or re-doweling a single loose joint. More often than not, we have to completely disassemble a chair and re-fix all the joints, so that the whole chair is returned to its solid and stable, original state.
Of course, over the years we have handled just about every conceivable type of chair and rectified every imaginable problem – from re-making parts of legs and stays, armrests and ornate details. We have also waxed, coloured and French polished an amazing variety of woods, whilst always making sure that the finished chair looks exactly as the original craftsman intended (with its value enhanced not adversely affected!).
Part of our work also involves the recovering of chairs. This is almost always ‘part and parcel’ of any chair repair where the chair has a covered seat. Fortunately, we have an excellent upholsterer – so, this aspect of the work can be undertaken by us for you.
A GORGEOUS ANTIQUE HIGH CHAIR RECENTLY RESTORED
So, if you have any chairs that need repair or restoration and you live in the Guildford or Dorking areas then do contact us. We have long experience of chair repair and we should be glad to provide you with a quotation for any necessary work.
Peter Snelling