Author Topic: unidentified chairs need help  (Read 3953 times)

mmiedema112

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unidentified chairs need help
« on: October 13, 2012, 05:10:41 pm »
I have these old chairs i would like some info on if available i got them awhile ago cant find anything about them. I think they are hand carved due to the imperfections in the wood and not 1 is exactly the same as the other. I think they are Chippendale chairs of some sorts but not sure . I am very curious as to their origin any help i very greatly appreciated, thank you.  :)  
« Last Edit: October 13, 2012, 05:23:31 pm by mmiedema112 »

bigwull

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2012, 05:17:40 pm »
just click on additional options...rocket science not needed.....
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mart

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2012, 05:54:44 pm »
Can you take a pic of the underside of the chair so we can see the construction ??  Theyt are Chippendale style but this style was made well into the 40`s so seeing how it was made will help !!

bigwull

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2012, 06:07:51 am »
These chairs look very much like their copies of Chippendale,s from China...or a similar country...
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mart

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2012, 09:10:12 am »
Could be or bad refinishing !!  Way too shiny !!

ghopper1924

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2012, 09:22:51 am »
Agree, way too shiny! If that red color is accurate, it was probably made in the Phillipines as a copy.
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mmiedema112

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2012, 10:11:56 am »
The shiny stain on the chairs is an attempt by previous owner to restore not original color.

bigwull

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2012, 10:43:50 am »
Well, I,m afraid he has made a bit of a pigs arse...of doing them...and what value they did have has been diminished somewhat...This colour is all wrong...and the only thing that you may be able to do is rub them down and re-stain them to a more acceptable colour...see link, these will give you some idea as to what colour you can aim for...but on no account do you use a varnish stripper, because if these are made of dark oak, or elm or other hardwood...then if you use a chemical based stripper the wood especially oak, will turn black...and all you will be left with is an unholy mess....double zero steel wool should be used...
but  not used on oak, because remaining traces of iron may react with tannins in the wood to produce blue or black iron stain. Bronze wool or stainless steel wool may be used to avoid this
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cogar

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2012, 11:11:39 am »
...but on no account do you use a varnish stripper, because if these are made of dark oak, or elm or other hardwood...then if you use a chemical based stripper the wood especially oak, will turn black..

Bigwull, not if it is American White Oak.

Now one time I experienced a "darkening" of the wood with a piece of Red Oak .... but I don't remember what I was doing. I think I was starting to apply a coat of "50-50" shellac and alcohol to seal the grain of the wood.

bigwull

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2012, 11:21:09 am »
I would,nt even risk it on American white oak..its all to do with the tannin in the oak....i,ve seen white oak turn...and once it does...then its just another candidate for the woodburner.... ;D..
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mart

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2012, 01:17:28 pm »
Wouldn`t worry !!  They are not oak from what I can see !!  Would still like to see underside !!  That refinishing job pretty much took half off whatever value they may have !!

bigwull

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2012, 02:05:58 pm »
Who said they were Oak??
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ghopper1924

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2012, 03:52:37 pm »
At least half the value, and if they're from the 1940s that was probably not alot to begin with, unfortunately.

The original wood is probably mahogany or walnut.
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mart

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2012, 07:03:16 pm »
I think mahogany !!  Some of the older styles of varnish had a stain added and they turn that bright red color !!

bigwull

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Re: unidentified chairs need help
« Reply #14 on: October 14, 2012, 07:19:31 pm »
Ronseal made a coloured varnish,...and one of them was a rich red cedar finish...which was ok with one coat, but as more coats were applied, the wood just got redder,...but whatever it is on these chairs is going to take a lot of rubbing to dull it sufficiently...in order for a more natural colour to be applied....but i am of a mind that any value that these ever had...has evaporated....which is a shame....
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,