Antique sofa?

Hi,

I am thinking of buying this sofa and stripping it down to the wood which has been heavily painted with black paint. Where the paint was scratched it looks like the wood is Oak or walnut. It is very solidly built.
I know it is difficult to judge from images, but would you say it is 1930's or a good reproduction?I could not find any glue marks nor screws as the paint has covered all.

If old, what sort of fabric would you think will suit it?
Thanks all.

 

I think you have a lot of work to do before you start thinking about upholstery fabric!

Debora

 

Could be as early as the 30s but more likely a decade or two later. Wouldn't necessarily call any of them from this era a reproduction but all would be a take on a much earlier European (Spanish?) piece. I don't see the value in this to undertake the stripping and reupholstery.

Here is a more authentic Spanish revival set from the 20s showing appropriate upholstery.

 

Thank you both. Debora, I agree there is a lot to do.

 

Don't think you'll know until you've removed the black paint what fabric will suit it. That said, velveteen doesn't seem to be a bad choice.

Debora

 

Personally, I'd rather milk snakes than strip all that black!!

What I'd do, is make sure the paint is even and chipless, and then upholster it with black and white mattress ticking.

 

Hi Silver,
I had throw covers made of blue and white mattress ticking made for my wing chairs for the summer. I ended up with the ticking for bedroom curtains as well as kitchen curtains. I used to love mattress ticking.
greg

 

It is an amazingly versatile fabric. Can be casual as in your usage (and Mary Martin's -- although hers was red & white), or downright formal. My mother recovered a huge Sheraton sofa in green and white -- very, very elegant!!

 

Thanks all, my knowledgeable teacher for restoring old furniture reckons I will need 8 hours to strip the paint and if the wood is anything apart from walnut, he said it will not be worth it. So, I will skip this one...

 

Good thing you asked!