Original rocking chair upholstery?

Well, I’ve started the tedious task of removing ten million tiny staples from the bottom of the rocker and discovered a model number: 810. I doubt any kind of numbering catalog for Limberts exists, but if anyone else has a numbered piece I’d love to see it!

 

Finally! All teeny, tiny, dratted little staples are no more. And thankfully, the webbing, original or replacement, looks pretty solid so that’s one less step to do!

 

Hi everybody. I’m an expert on the Limbert company, and would like to please add my comments to the mix.

Although Charles P. Limbert was involved in selling and producing Victorian “Fancy Furniture” in the 1890's, his company “Charles P. Limbert Furniture Co.” did not officially open till 1902, in Grand Rapids. That partial brand shown on this chair, would in a full state read: “Limbert’s Arts and Crafts Furniture, TRADEMARK, Made in Grand Rapids and Holland”. The word Holland was added starting in 1906, when their new factory opened in Holland Michigan at the corner of sixth and Columbia, where the parking garage for freedom village now sits. Their factory overlooked the wetlands now known as Windmill Island, and it was their original idea (as confirmed in company artwork) to have an authentic Dutch windmill there (which did not happen for decades). The company was a blend of artists and craftsmen consisting of Dutch & German immigrants, and American born descendants of such.

Brands with the title “Limberts” were used beyond the original American Arts and Crafts Movement (aka Mission Style), and eventually included some upholstered furniture (that would not be considered by us today as “arts and crafts”), even mostly upholstered cushy chairs. That brand was retired when the grandson of the founder of Holland Michigan took over, and then the mark became “Limberts by VanRaalte Craftsmen” starting in 1922. The company was never in Kalamazoo.

That chair is identifiable by it’s classic mission style as a 1910 era, which was a more stable and standardized mission furniture production timeframe. Prior Limberts was more Mediaeval rustic and amazingly radical. Although not much mission was produced beyond 1918 or 1919, it must be considered possible that the chair was made as far as upto 1922 before the brand changed, as there are many examples of Craftsman bungalows, especially in the form of house kits, constructed into the 1920s before the nation began moving into the impending “Art Deco” movement.

The orange fabric was a 1970s form of shag. The black over the bottom and the stupid staples confirm that the entire seat, including the webbing was redone. The original seat would have had layers of horsehair (to mask the feeling of the uneven webbing), then a series of thick and thin layers of real cotton, with brown or red leather over it.

Those pics give a fantasy idea of the once great Holland Michigan. With three exceptions, windmill island, tulip time, and that shopping center that has a little dutch themed section.

 

May I ask why you mentioned the "really nice, original finish" if you were planning on refinishing it (as shown in your last pic) to a high gloss chemical coating?

 

Really nice referred to the overall chair and the original finish was dry, extremely dirty and faded in spots. Also, I did not refinish the chair; after throughly cleaning, I put two coats of Tung oil to protect it. And last I checked, Tung oil is all natural, not a “high gloss chemical coating.” Two coats will give more shine, but once dry a light buffing with 0000 steel wool and no more “high gloss chemical coating.” But thanks for your concern.