How do you clean cane backs?

A soft brush removes most loose dust. Work the bristles gently between the woven strands without pressing too hard against the panels. A slightly damp cloth deals with stubborn dirt. Wipe lightly over the surface and let the cane dry naturally in a well-ventilated room.

I bought an oak highback chair recently and the seat height seems quite low compared to modern dining chairs, is this normal?

Early seating often sits lower than modern expectations. People were generally shorter, and domestic tables were sometimes built lower to match. Wear plays a big part too. Feet standing on damp brick floors rot away slowly over the decades. Generations of owners simply sawed off the damaged tips to level the chair out again.

What is a barley twist?

It's a wood turning that resembles a thick spiral rope. Craftsmen cut the deep grooves on a lathe. The style was popular during the late seventeenth century.

When I look at the back of my chair the carved top section wobbles slightly if I push it, should I get someone to glue it?

Animal hide glue becomes brittle as it ages. The seasonal shrinking and swelling of the wooden joints breaks the old adhesive bond. Leaving it loose risks snapping the wooden dowels or tearing the mortise cheeks. A restorer can dismantle the loose sections, clean out the residue, and re-glue the joints safely.

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Antique Highback Chairs

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Recognisable by their exaggerated vertical proportions, antique highback chairs were designed both to support the sitter's posture and to protect them from cold draughts in large, poorly heated rooms.