Iron Back

The photos show a Victorian iron back armchair at various stages during the re-upholstery process.

​

The chair is first stripped back to the frame. First the metal frame is bound with India tape so that the edges of the metal will not wear through the upholstery. The back upholstery is built back up using hessian, lots of curled hair, and linen scrim. The upholstery is stitched around the edge of the frame to form the shape and definition of the back of the chair, followed by a thick layer of hair and cotton felt through which the back is buttoned with the top fabric. The seat is webbed and sprung, stuffed and stitched followed by a second layer of hair, a layer of cotton felt and calico. The seat and outside back and arms are covered with the top fabric and piping, and which is hand-stiched in place.