The left photo shows the German carved rocking chair. It had been covered with grime, oil and spider webs. The right arm was broken as well as the curved finial details on the top of the arms. All in all, the chair was in good condition, just needed the back re-attached and the arm curls repaired and some of the joints re-glued. Jim helped me with this project as it was a two-person job. I held the chair in place while he carefully drilled out the old dowel holes so that we can glue the back into its original position. It took a little creative engineering to screw the holes completely straight so that the back lines up, since the entire chair was curved. After we got it in place, I began the restoration process.
First I bleached the back of the chair because it was very dark and dirty. After the bleach had lightened the wood, the beautiful carving of three men sitting at a table drinking beer had emerged. Once I was done bleaching, I thoroughly cleaned the chair and lightly sanded it. I applied one coat of golden oak stain and then finished it with tung oil, which brought out the wood's natural sheen. It was stunning when it was finished.
The customer was absolutely astounded at how beautiful his furniture had turned out! I envisioned the beauty I knew lie beneath the dirt, grime and cobwebs of the past and giving this old chair a new beginning. This was a lot of work, but it was well worth it!
