Ever wondered if there was a way to save a damaged rush seat on a beloved antique chair? Completely re-rushing can, in some cases, detract not only from market value, but also aesthetic quality. Here is one way an old rush seat with portions missing can be patched to consolidate damage and visually blend the whole seat.
Damaged Portion
Fiber rush strand (a modern rolled paper rush alternative)
Open up the end a couple inches...
Snip it at an angle...
Lay hot hide glue into open end
Wrap the paper around frayed rush strand
I also glued the strands down to make sure I wasn't depending on the splice joint alone
Shape the strands to where you want them while glue is still hot
Halfway there
Gluing the ends of the splices to the underside of the seat rail
All in place
Use an awl or other sharp pick to approximate the worn texture of old rush
Begin inpainting with shellac, earth pigments, and NGR dyes
From the distance people usually view it at, the repair is inconspicuous.
The finished chair. Any questions, leave me a comment. I'll be glad to help.
