This post is probably going to be of more interest to my sisters, who grew up with these chairs, than anyone else.
As you can plainly see they are in sad need of recovering. I actually recovered them in that maroonish fabric back in 1982 when my parents gave me the dining room set. I think I’ve probably mentioned this set before. I was with my Mother when, in 1965 or so, she bought the set from an elderly couple. I distinctly remember the woman telling my mother that the couple had received the set as a wedding gift some 50 years earlier. So by the time I got the set it was almost 70 years old.
In that 70 years the seats have been recovered several times. Uncovering them is like an archeology dig through my childhood.
It’s not really necessary to take off the old covers (as you can tell since there are so many layers still there) but for the purpose of this post and my own curiosity I uncovered one of them.
This must have been an early 70’s cover. It is gold corduroy. Stained gold corduroy. My goodness we were sloppy kids.
Now this one, for all its tatteredness, took my breath away. If Marie Antoinette was in the habit of recovering dining room chairs this is the fabric she would pick. The picture doesn’t do the colors justice. The background is a pale, greenish aqua with alternating pale gold and darker greenish aqua stripes – then the pink flowers.
The fabric was so rotted it just fell to dust as I was removing it. If I could find this exact fabric I would recover the chairs in it.
The next layer was a gold damask like fabric with dusty rose for the floral part of the design. I don’t remember this layer and it was the last one so maybe this is the original fabric. There is some kind of horsehair like batting underneath it that I had no desire to expose.
I am toying with the idea of this pink floral on a light blue background. I’m not sure though. Especially after seeing the Marie Antoinette fabric. This fabric isn’t upholstery grade and I’m afraid it might not hold up. We shall see…
I just love the pink flowers on blue. SO pretty!
I just love the pink flowers on blue. SO pretty!
What fun!! I love uncovering things to see the old fabric underneath – the stories they might tell if they could!! I like the fabric you chose, though. How does one go about finding the Marie Antoinette fabric, I wonder? Hmmm…
Sarah
I remember that gold cord fabric. And most likely I am to blame for some of the stains!
The new fabric is lovely. The chairs are going to look fabulous!
Love this archeology dig post. What fun to see all the fabrics that had been used before!
Your blog is just wonderful!
Oh, I remember that gold corderoy! I used to tuck cauliflower under the seat. I must say, your new choice is a far better one!