The Origins of Bridge Chairs

Bridge chairs originated in France in the early 1900’s for playing cards with the fashionable game at the time being bridge. The chairs were designed for comfortable but compact seating at the gaming table. Which was super important for playing bridge. These chairs were popular in Australia from the 1920’s through to the 1950’s. They were mainly constructed from local native hardwoods with the better chairs having mortise and tenon arm joints and coil sprung seating. There were many design variations however most bridge chairs featured bullnosed round arms as displayed.

A Family’s Bridge Chairs Return for Restoration

Our clients had previously been to our factory in Canning Vale, dropping off an old family club lounge to be refurbished for their daughter, however now it was their turn. They had four bridge chairs constructed in Jarrah and re-upholstered in the 1980’s but for the last few decades they were located on the farmhouse veranda. 

How We Restored These Jarrah Bridge Chairs

The Frame Refurbishment

1. We started stripping the upholstery cover and materials from the chairs.
2. Then the arms were given a basic sanding with the frame and arm joints knocked apart.
3. The internal frame joints were glued with a cross linking PVA and screwed with a two-pack resin used on the arm mortise and tenon joints.
4. As the Jarrah had bleached due to enduring years of direct sunlight we stained the show-wood components a mid-tone Jarrah before applying three coats of lacquer.

Our Reupholstery Steps

1. We started the re-upholstery with fitting jute webbing to the seats and backs
2. Then laced coil springs into the seats which were tied down.
3. Synthetic edge trim was then fixed onto the seat front whilst hessian was fitted to the seat and back.
4. We fabricate high density foam padding with polyester fibre overlays which provides more comfortable seating while equally durable. This is instead of the traditional flock and fibre
5. Finally the bridge chairs were then upholstered in Wortley ‘Lexington Springtime’ to the original finish and also featured padded and piped outside back panels.

Newly Restored Bridge Chairs Return to Geraldton

The furniture we have re-furbished for this family has served three generations, from farm houses in the mid-west to retirement in Geraldton. We understand there is more furniture to yet refurbish, we feel privileged to undertake this work.

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