1890s Oak Rocking Chair

An oak rocker saved from years in a farm outbuilding, repaired, refinished and given a new leather seat.

Era

1890s

Work

Cleaned, repaired, refinished and a new seat

Materials

Original springs, burlap, flax tow, cotton, leather from Austria

This rocker spent many years stored in a farm outbuilding and arrived under a layer of hardened dust that wouldn't brush off. The work started with soap and water. Missing veneer was replaced, loose areas were re-glued, and missing pieces were carved from antique oak.

The wood was washed with oxalic acid to bring back its natural color, bleached, then finished with aniline dye and coats of varnish. The seat was rebuilt on its original springs, cleaned of rust, enameled and tied in place, then built up with burlap, salvaged flax tow and cotton under a leather cover imported from Austria.

“In my 50+ years of restoring antiques, this is a stand-out piece,” Kim wrote when it was finished. “A true beauty saved from the elements.”