Jake Rose, age 12, of Danville, I11. for his question:
WHEN WAS UPHOLSTERY FIRST USED?
Before the 1400s, people would make their couches and chairs more comfortable by placing cushions at the backs and on the seats. Then during the Italian Renaissance of the 1400s, it became the custom to attach the cushions to the frames of the furniture. This new part of the furniture craft was called upholstery.
Today there are many different ways of upholstering davenports and chairs. Cushions and backs may be filled with foam rubber, cotton, down or kapok.
Sometimes today the backs, sides or arms may be left bare, with upholstery used only on certain parts of the furniture. Other times, the "overstuffed„ approach is used with the backs, seats and arms, including springs and thick padding in the construction.
In upholstering furniture today, strips of linen or jute webbing are first stretched both lengthwise and crosswise on the frame, interlacing at the spots where they cross. The number of webbing strips is determined by the number of springs which are to be used.
Enough strips are provided to make one crossing for each spring to rest on. The webbing is usually stretched and tacked to the underside, so that the stretching will not mar the part of the frame that shows. The tacks which fasten the webbing to the frame are staggered or fastened out of line so as not to split the wood.
The springs should not be so large as to come in contact with each other when under pressure. But they should be large enough not to leave open spots when someone sits on the furniture. After the springs are placed in position, they are sewed to the webbing to make them secure. Then they are tied down.
Burlap is tacked to the furniture frame and sewed to the springs to form a foundation covering for the stuffing which pads the springs.
The final step in upholstery is tacking the upholstery fabric to the finished padding work.
Upholstery fabric can vary greatly, depending on the type of furniture and the fad of the moment. Chintz, satin and cotton are popular fabrics for bedroom furniture, while brocade, silk and linen are fabrics preferred for living room furniture. Leather, nylon and plastics are also excellent upholstery fabrics.
In the best grades of upholstery, curled horsehair or foam rubber forms the padding. The padding is laid evenly over the burlap wich covers the springs.
It the padding is horsehair, it is sewed down to keep it from shifting and forming holes or lumps. A muslin first covering is sometimes used to hold the padding in place and prevent strain on the upholstery fabric itself.
Springs are tied down row by row. Twine is passed through the top coils and then fastened to tacks in the frame at either end of the row. The twine is pulled until the springs have been lowered to the desired height above the frame.
The less the springs are compressed, the greater the springiness of the upholstery. The springs are then tied wtih crosswise twines to keep them from tipping from one side to another. Finally, diagonal twines are used to secure the springs even more.