How to fix a sagging seat?

Most sagging happens when the jute webbing beneath the springs snaps or stretches. An upholsterer needs to strip the bottom dust cover and re-web the frame from below. Sometimes the string tying the springs together has failed. If the springs have collapsed sideways, the entire seat structure usually needs to be rebuilt.

I just inherited a large button-backed piece from my grandmother and the fabric is in tatters but the wood is nice, can I just recover it?

You can, but replacing only the top fabric is rarely enough for a piece this old. The underlying horsehair, hessian and cotton wadding will likely have compacted over time and lost their shape. A proper job involves stripping it back to the bare carcase. This gives a chance to check the structural joints and re-tie the springs before building up new padding and applying fresh fabric.

What exactly is a chesterfield?

A chesterfield is a specific style of deep-buttoned sofa with arms and back of the same height. The seat cushion is sometimes buttoned too. They often have a heavy, rolled top edge.

The wood frame on mine is very dark and shiny but someone told me it was walnut and I thought walnut was lighter brown, is this normal?

Victorian cabinetmakers often stained lighter woods to mimic dark mahogany or rich rosewood, which were fashionable at the time. A dark shellac finish was also applied over walnut to give it a uniform, glossy appearance. Over many decades, old varnish darkens further as it oxidises and absorbs dirt from coal fires and gas lighting. Stripping this old finish destroys the surface history, so most restorers prefer to simply clean and rewax the existing patina.

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Victorian Sofas

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Deeply upholstered, multi-seat parlour pieces with exposed timber framing, built during the nineteenth century to accommodate expanding households and formal drawing room entertaining.