The full story - Prie Dieu chair
Prie Dieu chairs were popular in Victorian times. They have a characteristic 'T' shape, the top of which may be fully upholstered or finished in wood. This example probably dates to around 1860-1880
THE FULL STORY
Consultation
This chair has always been in the family. Over the years the stuffing has become uncomfortable and the fabric has been damaged by a pet, so it doesn't get used much. I took samples of fabric to help my client visualise it amongst her other furnishings, and she chose a striking jacquard by Linwood Fabrics
Stripping it down
I stripped the chair down to its frame and cleaned and nourished the wood, before re-webbing and applying hessian
The finish
The striking top fabric was pattern-matched throughout and piped with a solid grey piping to highlight the chair's shape, then a matching double piping was added around the seat in place of a fussy gimp braid
Stuffings
Two stuffings were applied to the back and the seat: coir was tied in and blind-stitched as a base layer, then an edge roll was sewn in and mixed hair was added for added comfort