Question:
I've had my c1825-1850 Directoire style recamier reupholstered. I had them carefully remove the original muslin lining that was under the upholstery in hopes of selling it to those who might want the real thing, ie: decorators, dealers, quilters, costumers...
It has a beautiful patina (or whatever it's called in textile-talk) A naturally aged color, with overall foxing, and holes and rust spots from the hand-made steel tacks (many are even still attached)
Tomorrow I'll post a few images so you can see the condition and weave, but I wanted to get everyone's input on it's desireability, and if indeed, it's Early-to-Mid 19th century.
Do most historic/preservationist folk want untainted/unused muslin?
Is this a good Ebay thing?
Answer:
Stuffy,
I have absolutely NO idea, but I'm responding to let you know that I'm interested in the topic! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
Do you think a piece of furniture could go for 150 years without being reupholstered?!? Must have been higher quality than what we buy these days...
Ummm. My dictionary doesn't include 'recamier'...can you explain? I'm picturing a fainting bench or whatever they call them...
How large a piece of fabric is it?
Elaine
Answer:
I was thinking the same thing as Elaine. It most likely was reupholstered along the way. Unless it was never used. But then it could have even been redone with old fabric. Theres all sorts of variables. But that doesnt mean that its not an antique muslin. I've seen old muslin sell well for quilting. I'll be real interested in seeing your pics.
Elaine, heres an example of one..of course there are many different kinds..
http://www.trocadero.com/expression/...6/catphoto.jpg
Answer:
Sorry for the delay!
Yes, it's a sofa...a daybed if you will. Named historically after Madam Recamier, who is seen lounging on one in the painting by Jacques-Louis David.
Here's my recamier; both ends are exactly the same height. It has bronze mounts on the frame(which you can't see) and large stamped bronze floral tackheads which the upholsterer carefully reapplied.
http://webpages.charter.net/h59fs96v/stuffy0.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/h59fs96v/stuffy00.jpg
Here's some pics of the muslin. It is not a dressmakers-grade muslin, fine weave but not gossamer.
This was the underlining so to speak - it was UNDER the upholstery, and was handsewn in places, giving shape to the horsehair (?) and cotton stuffing.
This main piece is 33 by 79. One side of the 33" dimension is a selvedge edge, the other edge appears cut. I have some more pieces but they are smaller.
entire piece
against light
detail1
detail2
detail3
detail4
It's not in the best condition by any means. It has several small tears/broken thread areas. Lots of little tan spots which may be mold stains but what I refer to as foxing( similar to old paper).
Any insight would be appreciated. http://community.here.com/infopop/em...icon_smile.gif
Answer:
Do you think it's linen or hemp? Or is it cotton? I vote for linen, but that's without getting to feel it! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
You think this piece was originally woven wider than 80"?!!? Did I understand you correctly?
Hmmm.
Have you got a thread count? Count the number of threads per inch each direction. Such as 30 x 40 *or* 60 x 60, etc. Linen testers work well, or substitute a magnifying glass and a ruler or piece of paper.
Elaine
Answer:
Is your house a 'bungalow'? That's a pretty unique ceiling line! And what a fabulous fireplace! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
Tell us about it!
Answer:
I vote linen too..and what a pretty room. http://community.here.com/infopop/em...icon_smile.gif
Answer:
ack! I just knew you were gonna put me to work! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
According to my primitve self-made linen tester (a 1"sq. hole in graph paper, a needle, and a mag glass) I count about 104-108 threads per linear inch each way.. So, that would be about 200 thread count for the vert+horiz. threads? Pretty fine threads, and thin. I don't think it's linen...but I don't know how thin linen can be made either!
I confused you AND me on the selvedge part. What I meant is that the length is 33" (the up/down dimension as it lays in my photo #1 labeled "entire piece", of which one edge is a selvedge. The width (across, right/left) is 79" and both edges are cut edges. Make sense?
My house is a 1925 Mediterranean...lots of fancy old plasterwork, but with 'Craftsman' detailing on the french windows. I would've much preferred graceful, arched windows in the living room!
The ceilings in the LivingRm & DiningRm are about 11' or 12' high at the peak of the 'barrel-vault' and are crowned with original cast-plaster molding. The roof is flat above those rooms and doesn't have a floor above. The rest of the house has 2 stories.
The fireplace is a mock firplace with a gasline stub. As the story goes, the "Stone" blocks are supposedly made of local Long Beach sand from the beach. When we bought the place that whole fireplace and mantle was painted over in peach-colored paint. I stripped it myself, and boy, was it was a b!tch...like stripping paint from coarse sandpaper!
Originally, in the '20s, you would've placed a 'newfangled' fancy gas-burning ceramic heater there. It does have firebrick and a flue just like a regular wood-burning FP, but I don't think I could burn wood there.
Answer:
First the fabric--
Yes, that is a pretty fine weave. You must have taken a really close up photo! I think it could still be linen though. Linen can be light or heavy, thick threads or thin, tightly woven or sheer. The thread fibers themselves look really long and without the fuzzies that shorter staple cotton usually has. But photos can be misleading. Have you done a burn test?
Karen Gray's site: http://www.ditzyprints.com (I always forget the url so I'm typing it here...) and click on Informational Pages, near the bottom.
That is pretty wide fabric. I don't recall offhand how wide upholstery fabrics were during various eras, but 80" is probably wider than would be common on a hand loom with a hand-thrown shuttle. Not saying it's impossible, but less likely. I'm not remembering right now when it was that machine made fabrics became common. (You could check Joan Kiplinger's columns maybe...)
Did you save the outer fabric that was removed? Was it put on the same direction? (with the lengthwise grain/warp running the same way as the under layer) Are there hints as far as age from that?
Sorry to be in such a rush and not able to look stuff up today. I'm running to get ready for a yard sale on Saturday and other things keep getting scheduled for my 'free' time between now and then... http://community.here.com/infopop/em.../icon_wink.gif
About the house: Wow! Neat features. Thanks for sharing! I'll be back later with more comments. But isn't it interesting how people combine styles in a house when they build them? Who would have thought of Craftsman and Mediteranean in the same room! lol I saw the windows on either side of the fireplace and immediately assumed the rest of the house was Craftsman or similar. I've seen some houses in Bungalow magazine that had similar fireplaces, but don't remember any with curved ceilings and plasterwork. http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
Elaine
Answer:
stuffygrotto, your room and recamier are beautiful! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...icon_smile.gif
I have no expertise on this subject what so ever but I do know (from reading the Keno brothers book) that when rare upholstered furniture turns up they remove the upholstery before it is auctioned because the potential buyers need to see the wood, framework, etc. I never noticed them mentioning that the underlining is saved in any way. So I would guess that it is not anything particularly desired but as I said, I know absolutely nothing about the subject! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif