Someone had done a hack-job on this poor chair. The back is our main concern. Someone thought it was suppose to have caning, but according to what I've studied, it seems it was upholstered.
I need advice about rehabbing this Eastlake rocking chair
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Is there anyone who can help me with our rocking chair? The board is missing at the top, where the back cushion would be. I want to make sure we get this right. I've researched and cannot find another chair, exactly like it, but one similar. I will include that picture. Am I right? I've never upholstered this kind - there is a Masonite-type of board for the back - was this a part of the original? Anyone know the age? Thank you!
Trim board is missing.
Would the top board be a duplicate of the bottom board?
Here is the only picture, closest to the style I have - just a different back design.
I can't tell if it was originally caned or not. If I were redoing the chair, I would try and replace the missing wood slat at the top with one that matches the bottom. Then I would mimic the upholstery style on your companion picture. I would leave the open space above the replacement slat.You could add some fancy dowels like many of the Eastlake chairs have if you do not like the plain opening. You can use the thin wood sheet to support foam that you add to the back or you can use strips of webbing. You need something to hold the back in. I would use 2 inch foam covered with polyester batting and webbing. Upholster the back of the chair before you do the front. There are a number of great tutorials on Pinterest if want step by step pictures to follow. This one is for a round back chair, but many of the steps will be the same. http://missmustardseed.com/2013/12/upholstery-tutorial/
Be sure to post pictures of your finished chair.
I thought that the back of this chair resembled yours. I hope this helps with your restoration!
I've looked at several pics of these chairs on various sites. It looks like the back is an upholstered piece that would be supported by those side pieces. You could cut a piece of plywood to fit the area and attach along bottom and sides; I'd use wood screws. Then cover the padding with material on front side, lapping over back to secure without showing edges. Attach to board with spots of glue to hold steady. Cover back of chair. It looks like they used lots of thumb tacks to outline edges of seat cushion and back. I'd recommend a 1/4 inch seam allowance all around material to avoid ravelling. I checked pics on pintrest and etsy for reference.
What does the underside of the seat cushion look like. It is probable that the cushion was fastened and blocked to and around the wood section. The tacking does not seem to be on the seat. Is there tacking?
I have been an upholsterer and restorer for more than 40 years and I love a challenge. This looks to have been caned, but on my computer I cannot see holes or a groove where this would have been. It's a possibility that they could have been cut away like the piece of wood that is missing. My suggestion would be to add some small wood pieces in the gap which looks to be about 3-4 inches. Screw the 1 by 4 onto the side of the chair in the gap. You will never be able to mimic the curve in the back with wood unless you have special steamer to bend wood. You can choose to fill in the rest of the gap down the side of the back or do the upholstery to follow the lines of the wood in the chair. Use a flexible webbing or do not pull regular webbing tight..Foam and batting (I prefer cotton) I cover with muslin, then material. You should be set. The bottom looks to have issues too.
I did a search an this is a close one. Good Luck on it.