1890s Turkish Rocker
One of the original twelve apostles' chairs from the temple in Salt Lake City, restored to match archival photographs.
- Era
- 1890s
- Materials
- Horsehair, hand-stitched leather, steel springs, white oak
- Recognition
- IFAI International Achievement Award of Excellence, 2015
This rocker was one of the original twelve apostles' chairs in the temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. It passed down to an apostle's grandson in Tucson, Arizona, who shipped it to Falls City so Kim could return it to its original condition.
Archival photographs guided the work. Kim re-glued and refinished the white oak rocker base, rebuilt the springing on the hand-forged steel frame, then hand stitched and sculpted the horsehair beneath the tufted leather.
In 2015 the rocker won an Award of Excellence in the upholstery category of the IFAI International Achievement Awards, judged on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function. That year's competition drew 293 entries from 11 countries.
From the bench
2 photographs of the work, in the order it was done. Swipe or use the arrows to browse, and select any photo to enlarge it.
Watch the methods
1890s Turkish chair restoration, filmed in Kim's shop. The same techniques went into this piece.
More videosHave a piece that needs this kind of care?
Send a few photos and a short description. Kim will look them over and reply with next steps.