Question Eastlake Settees

[tcandkk]

We just obtained an Eastlake Settee. After my husband cleaned the wood, we saw that there is a leather strip in the center of the wood just below the seat. I have seen this in other pictures of Eastlake Settees. There is a picture on this website entitled Gothic Settee that looks like it also has the leather strip.

Gothic Settee

I am attaching a picture from ours.

Thanks!

[woodwright]

I don't see any leather.
I believe you are referring to the dark center area on the front seat rail w/ both ends terminating to a point. That is an applied (glued on) walnut burl veneer - a very common decorative element/ detail in Renaissance Revival & Neo Grec furniture (primarily 1860's & 1870's). It was commonly used on sofa and chair seat rails and usually on the backs too, also used on other furniture like marble top tables, beds, dressers, etc.    woodwright

[tcandkk]

Woodwright,

Yes, that is what I was referring to...it really does appear to be more leathery and a bit thicker and softer than the veneer beneath it. But I am sure you are right, it is burled walnut veneer.

I have looked at quite a few Eastlake settee pictures but only a handful appeared to have that on them.

Until I bought this settee, I was not aware of the Eastlake style, despite being a closeted collector.

We are re-doing our bedroom. I planned on stripping two chairs that belonged to my grandmother, but at least 3 layers of paint. We decided to check a furniture consignment store to see if they had a small couch. The settee was in an out of the way area and had curtains piled over it. The longer the piece is there, the greater the discount. The upholstery had a few stains on it, but appears no one really ever sat on it. Springs, padding and straw in pristine condition. Cost $30. About a week after I realized what Eastlake funiture was I had a duh moment. Grandma's chairs....plus a hutch buffet piece I had in my dining room and a table we have in storage.

One oddity I noticed on the settee, one arm is carved, the other is not. We though maybe the left arm had been replaced, but it does not appear so in person. This picture is a bit deceiving size wise. 

The way it is sitting right now I can't get a full picture of the front.

Thanks again!

Donna

[Canadian maple]

I have never seen one of these with only one are carved; but there's always a first time.  However, given the quality of the other parts of the settee, it seems more likely the one arm has been replaced.  I would just leave that way....it's a part of its history.  By the way the tiger striped walnut used for the back rail makes your piece particularly attractive.

[tcandkk]

We do plan on leaving the non carved arm alone. We were delighted to see the tiger striped walnut. When we bought it, it just looked black. One washing took it back to the original wood.

The picture of the back is after the tung oil applied.

At least my husband is more excited about stripping the chairs, although they will be a bear with the 3 layers of paint in the carved part of the chairs.

Thanks again!

Donna

[woodwright]

I'm certain that the reeded portion is original, and that the ear of the arm (glued on to the original arm) w/o the carving has been repaired.
Use paint stripper w/ a brass bristle brush to scrub the paint out of the carvings. Available @ most good hardware stores. The brass is soft enough not to scratch the wood. Don't use a steel wire brush - it will scratch the wood.    woodwright

[tcandkk]

Thank you for the info regarding brushes. What little paint that was removed, a few yrs ago, I don't remember what I used, but we do have both brass and wire.

BTW, as far as the compo on our sideboard, before we do anything else, we are going to make plastilina molds of the door designs and the shell motif on the backsplash and apron.

Even though the door designs have a few cracks, at present time they are secure, so the mold procedure shouldn't harm the compo.