WHY RESTORE TRADITIONAL UPHOLSTERY?

In modern upholstery ease and speed of assembly are at a premium, durability is less of a concern. Sewing-machines are used to make up the cover, a layer of foam forms the shape and cushions are added for comfort. In traditional upholstery the emphasis is different. The following description will give you an idea of the care and craft that goes into our work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 50 years or more, most furniture frames become rickety and some are only held together by the upholstery. Our frame repairs are thorough and robust and will last. We clean the joint surfaces to remove all traces of animal glue, replace dowels as necessary and then re-glue. Woodworm can wreak havoc on a frame and occasionally rails have to be replaced. All frames with woodworm are treated.

The chair opposite has had a rail and two corner blocks replaced due to woodworm damage.

Most seats are sprung using double cone springs which are sewn to the webbing by hand before lashing front to back and side to side to compress and secure them. They are then stitched to the hessian that goes over the top of them. Large loops of twine are sewn into the hessian under which the coir stuffing is placed, forming the first layer. A lighter weight hessian is used to cover this. (See left.)

We achieve the required shape of the upholstery by hand stitching the first layer to produce a firm edge which follows the line of the frame. We add a second layer of stuffing (horse hair) to give it softness and 'fine tune' the shape to harmonise with the design of the piece. Next, cotton felt and calico are layered on top, followed by the fabric. (See right.)

The finishing touches are also labour intensive, the outside covering of fabric has to be largely sewn on by hand, as does decorative cord if used. Our only concession to modernity is use of staples which are kinder to frames than tacks.

To provide an idea of the time involved it would take 2 1/2 days work to first strip then reupholster the seat of a standard armchair such as the sprung seat with a stitched edge in the last photograph.

You can be sure that when you commission work from Hamilton and Hodson your period furniture will be treated in a manner which the maker would undoubtedly have approved.

And if you bring us a modern piece of furniture, we feel sure that you will be equally happy with the results.