Posts: 14,839
Threads: 10
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: southeastern VA
If you turn the chair upside down, what does the hole pattern look like for the seat?
In other words, which (if any) of all those holes in the top go all of the way through?
"the most important safety feature on any tool is the one between your ears." - Ken Vick
A wish for you all: May you keep buying green bananas.
Posts: 42,638
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2002
From the looks of it, it's had several types of seats. Could have been caning, but the light border around the hold suggests some sort of board was there, possibly holding padding and cloth cover. But then, all the holes in the dark, narrow border around the light colored border suggest upholstery tacks.
I'd say you could pretty much do what you wanted, but do have to say a padded seat with springs would be over-powering for the otherwise delicate looking style.
Dave
Posts: 2,274
Threads: 90
Joined: Jun 2001
If the springs are ordinal then it had a cloth/horse hair cover. If the springs are not original then it could have been covered by a piece of leather - don't think it's that because of the nail holes. They would be closer together.
What is supporting the spring beneath?
John
Always use the right tool for the job.
We need to clean house.
Posts: 5,421
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2001
Location: Troy IL
09-19-2015, 06:03 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-24-2016, 11:11 AM by Woodshop.)
more pictures
spring hooked at corner
tack Hole pattern about every 1-1/2"
bottom
Life is what you make of it, change your thinking, change your life!
Don's woodshop
Posts: 6,562
Threads: 2
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: North Florida
My guess is that they used a pad of excelsior or horsehair which was wrapped in cloth. It was probably held in place by black oilcloth.
Some chairs of that period had plywood seats which were drilled with decorative hole patterns. No evidence of plywood on your chair.
===---===---===---===---===---===---===---===---
Please visit my website
splintermaking.com
