reviving the first nations spirit
Native American art is a unique and beautiful form of expression that has been passed down through generations. It is a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, many pieces of Native American art, including leather chairs, have been lost over time due to neglect, wear and tear, and the passage of time. But for those who are passionate about preserving this important part of American history, restoring Native American themed leather chairs is a way to bring new life to these pieces and ensure they are passed down for generations to come.
Restoring a Native American themed leather chair is a process that requires patience, skill, and a deep appreciation for the art form. The first step is to carefully inspect the chair to determine the extent of the damage and what needs to be done to restore it to its original condition. This might include repairing tears in the leather, replacing missing or damaged beads or tassels, and restoring the chair's overall structure.
As with many vintage and antique pieces that come through our shop, our task is to keep the piece as original as possible. With this project our challenges were further compounded by the intricate native American artwork on the arm panels and back rest that had to be saved. Our initial plan of action was to restore the leather, however we found this to be almost impossible for 70% of the leather. Sadly the ph of the leather had deteriorated on account of oil damage and bleaching from UV rays. We were however able to save the panels containing the original artwork.
For this project our team used buckskin leather that we had been saving for a rainy day for the upholstery work. We custom matched the color from a spot on the chair that was hidden from use and applied a soft yet durable color coat and clear top coat, we overlayed a faint darker tone to give the piece an allure of age and patina. All of the fringe was cut to the original dimensions and laced by hand.
Lastly the variety of colors used in the artwork were custom matched by our team and gently painted on the leather by hand.
