UPHOLSTERY. In modern usage, an upholsterer is one who supplies coverings, cushions, padding and stuffing for chairs, sofas or beds, or who repairs the same, and more generally one who also provides carpets, curtains and household furniture. The word first appears as "upholder," then as "upholdster" or "upholsterer," that is, a broker who holds goods up to public view.
The earliest example of upholstery consisted in simply stretch ing a piece of leather across a seat somewhat on the principle of a hammock. Subsequently, springs were added. These springs, at first shallow, developed in height until they were liable to bend over and be "crippled," as it is termed in the trade. This led to a greater amount of lashing or tying of the springs together; and to double springing, that is, one layer of springs of lighter weight superimposed upon a lower layer of heavier gauge.
Later, there has been the hour-glass shaped spring. This allows the use of a wide base and top. On compression, the coils do not "chatter" or rub together when sat upon.
stuffed with whatever material may be chosen, such as fibre or hair, a light canvas or scrim is placed over the filling, and the edge stitched by hand to form a firm portion which determines the outline and form of the chair. The chair is then second-stuffed with a further layer of hair or some cheaper material. This hair is then covered with a layer of wadding to prevent it from work ing through the cover. The same treatment is applied to the back and arms, which may also be sprung. The upholstered articles may now be first covered in calico, or the final cover put on.
Spring Frames.—As the web foundation for a chair has some times proved unreliable, it is sometimes superseded by the employ ment of a spring frame. This consists of a series of springs held together by suitable metal links and surrounded by a wire edge bent to the shape of the outline of the seat. Alternatively, other makers have employed lace webbing as a foundation on which to impose the layer of stuffing underneath the cover. The lace webbing resembles wire-woven mattresses.
The principal raw materials employed in upholstery are timber for the framework, webbing, springs, hair, fibre, flock, woodwool, canvas, wadding, tacks, twine and laid cord; various coverings, such as leather, moquettes, velvets, tapestries, silks and damasks.