Period-correct restoration of Victorian, French, English, and American antique seating — horsehair, jute, eight-way hand-tied springs, and the methods the original maker used.
A serious antique restoration is a different discipline from reupholstery. The materials are different — horsehair instead of foam, jute webbing instead of sinuous wire, hand-applied gimp instead of welt cord. The objective is also different: not "good as new," but "appropriate to the piece." Done correctly, an antique restoration extends the working life of a piece by another half-century without erasing what came before.
Antiques receive a slower, more deliberate process — the kind of work that simply cannot be rushed.
The piece is photographed at each stage of strip-down for the client’s records — what existed before our intervention, what was structurally compromised, and what was preserved.
Joints are inspected for failure. Where loose, we use period-correct hide glue rather than modern adhesives. Where structurally compromised, we make sympathetic repairs.
Springs, jute webbing, and horsehair are replaced with materials matched to the original method and quality. Eight-way hand-tied work is done by craftsmen who have done it for decades.
Horsehair, burlap, jute webbing, hand-applied gimp, period-correct nailhead — sourced and applied to spec.
For museum-quality restoration we recommend silk damask, hand-loomed brocade, or period-appropriate linen. For practical use, contemporary fabrics with period silhouettes work well.
A senior craftsman signs off on every restoration before delivery.
For museum-quality restoration: Schumacher silk damask, hand-loomed brocade, period linen. For pieces returning to active service: period-appropriate cotton, wool, and silk-blend fabrics. We source through our trade accounts and welcome COM.
Explore Upholstery Glossary →All commissions begin with a complimentary in-home estimate and a written scope. No project moves forward without your written approval of the cost and timeline.
Almost always. Pre-1920 American and European hardwood frames are typically structurally superior to anything made after 1970.
No. Period restoration uses horsehair, burlap, and jute. We do not substitute polyurethane in heritage work.
You receive photographs at each stage and a written scope before work begins. A senior craftsman signs off the finished piece.
We document and preserve any maker’s marks, signature plates, or inventory stamps during strip-down.
No — we are restorers, not appraisers. For valuation, we recommend working with an ASA-credentialed appraiser separately.
Schedule a complimentary in-home estimate anywhere in Reno, Lake Tahoe, or the Sierra Nevada. A craftsman will visit, review the piece, and prepare a written scope.