what height are antique side chair seats?

Most date from a time when dining tables were slightly lower. The standard seat height usually hovers around eighteen inches from the floor. Modern dining tables sit higher. If you pair older seats with a new table, you might find the proportions feel a little low.

I inherited a set of six chairs but one has a broken back splat, so is it better to fix it or just use five?

Always repair the broken one. A set of six is a standard dining configuration, and keeping them together makes sense for daily use. Any competent restorer can glue and clamp a split splat. It is a standard bench job. Keep the broken pieces safe in a bag until you get it to a workshop.

how to clean old mahogany chairs?

Start with a soft dust cloth. That is usually enough for weekly maintenance. If the timber looks dry, apply a clear beeswax polish once or twice a year. Put a small amount on a rag, rub it in, and buff it off twenty minutes later. Never use silicone sprays. They leave a cloudy film.

When I sit on my old chairs the joints creak and wobble a bit, should I worry about them collapsing during a dinner party?

A slight creak is normal for wood responding to weight and temperature. A physical wobble is a different matter entirely. If the joints move when you shake the frame, the animal glue has failed. Stop using the chair and take it to a restorer to be knocked apart and re-glued. Ignoring a loose joint will snap the tenons.

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Victorian Side Chairs

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Designed without arms to slide easily under dining tables or line the walls of crowded parlours, an antique side chair is a functional seating form built for daily use.