Learning the names and terms for parts of objects is important in developing your shared vocabulary for easier communication. If a designer asks you to “make the splat wider”, you don’t want to waste your time trying to widen a drop of paint. For chairs, this was a little tricky trying to distill down all the general parts. Not all chairs have all the parts. Some parts are only specific to certain styles or time periods. Various people refer to similar parts by different names; in some contexts, they can be synonyms, while in others, they might have slightly different definitions. I’ve tried to exclude terminology which describes styles of parts. So while I defined a “leg”, I haven’t included a “cabriole leg”. You can refer to the drawing above as well as the one below when looking at the definitions. At the end of today’s post, I’ve included a full-size drawing of both diagrams together at a higher resolution so you can print it out and hang it up. apron – the strips that run between the legs and connects to the surface (seat)
arm or armrest - part that supports your elbow and forearm arm support – generalized term for the upright piece which supports the arm back rail - rails specific to the seat back back upright – synonym for “stile” corner bracket – item which connects two members for added support and structure cresting - ornamental topping, usually set in the center of the top of a chair-back cresting rail – rail which contains the cresting, aka top rail ear - small projecting member or part of a piece or structure, either decorative or structural foot - bottom of the leg headpiece - another word for “top rail” or “headrest”. With cresting, can be called “cresting rail” leg - support for the chair lower rail – lowermost rail of the seat back manchette (arm pad) – upholstered patch or cushion on an armrest mid rail – rail close to the vertical center of the seat back rail – horizontal bar (of the back)
seat – the piece you set your bum on seat back – general term encompassing the whole back of a chair, from the seat on up seat rail – a synonym for the apron, or a single piece of the apron shoe - a piece that sits on the back seat rail and holds the bottom of the splat, allowing easy replacement of a broken splat without disassembling the whole chair skirt - band of fabric that hangs free from the bottom of an upholstered cushion. Sometimes used as a synonym for “apron” slip seat – a seat which is easily removable to facilitate re-upholstery spindle - a cylindrically symmetric shaft splat - a vertical central element of the chair back stile - outside vertical framing member (of the back) stretcher – horizontal support element joining the legs top rail – uppermost rail of the seat back upholstered back – a padded back covered in fabric upholstered seat – a padded seat covered in fabric upright - vertical members of a chair back
Making and finding props for theatre, film, and hobbiesJUST SEND US A SAMPLEWhether you are a first time chair restorer or a professional refinisher we are here to help. We believe that the chair you restore today will be a family heirloom in the future. Our chair spindles will make the We enjoy A matter of fact, we have turned thousands ofThe only way you can have a spindle duplicated is by sending a sample to us. Look at the cost, send it to us and we will take care of it from there. return shipping helps continue you restoration with a minimal delay. Welcome to Wood Chair Parts. We developed our site for anyone who restores antique or modern furniture. will assist you during your restoration by supplying you with hand duplicated-furniture and We also repair furniture parts by replacing the damaged area. This is necessary to maintain as much of the original wood as possible. Our lathe operators and woodworkers
have been restoring furniture for many years. We have the touch that is needed to make a duplicate part or a repair look like it was made years ago. What ever the age, we will do our best to keep it looking authentic. Whether it's a flea market find, a family heirloom, or a treasured antique. will make that restoration a little bit easier. If you have any questions about duplicating wood furniture parts or need further information, e-mail us or complete our We will respond promptly. chair legs for newI recommend regluing and fixing yourWinter months dry out your chairs and open the mortises. This is the time to reglue your chairs.Use a yellow glue. Ruff up the tenons and the holes. glue around both and insert. If you don't have a clamp just make sure the tenons are in the same distance as they originally were and the chair sits on the floor flat. Just a mention that I would like to thank all the restorers, experienced or not, that supported us over the years.
of the number of spindles turned. The best we can guess, it isWe are the best turners in the country. not bragging we just want to help and want your business. not have reached this number without your help. Chairs are priced pennies on the dollar. Now is the opportunity to buy chairs that fit your decor for a couple of bucks. are real wood will last for years if restored. Try your hand atMaple chairs come in a variety of styles andThey are a good chair to start restoring. I am always available to assist you in restoring furniture. contact form and I will email back. Sending pictures are a goodWrangle ShoesDecor StatementShoestorageFree PlansDiy PlansWood PlansPerfect PieceFantastic PieceFantastic InfoForwardInspired by a vintage mail sorter, this DIY shoe cubby is the perfect piece of furniture to help you wrangle shoes. Free plans to build your own!arm part of a chair that you rest your arm on when you are sitting in itarmchair a large comfortable chair with parts for you to rest your arms on.
It is often part of a set of chairs called a suite that also includes a sofa (=a long chair for two or three people).armrest the part of a seat on which you rest your armback the part of a chair that you lean on when you are sitting on itbackrest the part of a piece of furniture that supports your backchair a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, with a back, legs, and sometimes two armschaise American a chaise longuechaise longue a chair with an arm on only one side and a long seat on which you can sit with your legs stretched outchesterfield a large sofa, often covered with leathercommode a seat with a container below it, used as a toiletcouch a long low comfortable seat that two or three people can sit ondavenport American a large and comfortable sofa (=long chair for two or three people), especially one that can be made into a beddivan a long comfortable seat with no back or arms for two or more peopleeasy chair a large comfortable chairheadrest the top part of a chair or car seat that you lean your head againsthigh chair a tall chair that very young children sit in to eathowdah Indian English a large seat on an elephant’s back
, usually one with a cloth rooflitter a seat or bed made from cloth with long poles, in which an important person or dead body was carried in the pastloveseat a small comfortable seat for two peopleottoman a large seat shaped like a box, with a space below for storing thingspew a long wooden seat in a churchrocker one of the curved pieces on the bottom of a rocking chair that allow the chair to move backwards and forwardsrocker American a rocking chairrocking chair a chair that has two curved pieces under it, so that when someone sits on it they can move it backwards and forwardsseat something you can sit onseat the part of a chair that you sit onseating the seats in a public place such as a cinema or on a bus, train etcseating the way in which seats are arranged or who will sit in them, especially at a formal occasionseat pitch the distance between the front edge of a seat and the front edge of the seat in front, for example on a planesedan chair a covered seat on two long poles that was used in the past for carrying an important person aroundsettee British a long soft comfortable chair for two or three peoplesettle a long wooden chair for two or three people that usually has a container under the seat for keeping things