Victorian Antique Balloon Back Chair
31March 29, 2016 by Terry
I hate to admit it but one of my biggest pet peeves is when people on classified ad sites list things as being something that they aren’t! They label things as “antique” when they aren’t or label them as the wrong style. I’m sorry but it doesn’t take that much to do a quick search to find out what your piece is. Not only does it make you look better but the person buying it won’t be so surprised that it isn’t really antique, just antique looking.
This sweet chair was listed as an “Elizabethan Rose Chair”. Elizabethan it is NOT … Victorian … yesssss!
This little pretty is a solid walnut Victorian Antique Balloon Back chair!
It doesn’t look so bad in the photos but it really did need a bit of fixing up.
I decided to paint it and chose Vanilla Frosting by Country Chic paint. I ran out of antiquing wax so I faked it by adding some Curio milk paint powder to a bit of clear wax. It worked out perfectly in a pinch!
I also reupholstered the seat using some textured material I’d been saving for just the right piece! This was clearly the right piece to use it on as it looks so fresh and pretty on it!
Couldn’t help but take a hundred photos of it! It will be added to my stockpile for the All Things Pretty Market on April 30. If you are interested in winning tickets (and you are close by) please leave me a comment here on my blog saying why you would like to go … you could win 2 tickets!
You can also purchase tickets ahead of time by going to www.funktionaldesigns.ca/tickets
I would love it if you stopped by to say Hello!
Have a great day!
Smiles!
Terry
If you missed Making Broken Beautiful last week you can click here to view all that inspired!
Sharing this sweet chair at:
French Country Cottage
DIY Show Off
Seeking Lavender Lane
Shabby Fu Fu
Lehman Lane
The Curators Collection 
Love the pretty fabric Terry! I thought for sure you were going to say that it was going in your daughter’s room. I’m sure it’ll sell at the market very quickly 😍
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Thank you Marie! I hope so, our house looks like the inside of an antique store right now. There’s hardly any room to breathe and I am constantly saying “don’t sit on that!” ha ha! Hope you have a great day!
Smiles!
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What kills me the most is that you even know the names of all these crazy pieces you work on AND their history and purpose! I learn a lot from you, my friend. And the chair looks so lovely. Maybe you should consider a book…
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It’s worth taking a few minutes to “look” it up! ;) okay… to google it! ha ha! I’m not THAT knowledgeable and I may even get a few things wrong … if I do I love it when people let me know what’s right! hmmmmm …. a book … i don’t even know how to go about monetizing my blog yet write a book! If you know how, let me know! lol Have a great day my friend!
Smiles!
P.S. did you move yet?????
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Moving on the 16th. Trying to get organized and doing a bad job of it lol. I’ve been drafting a post for far too long and darn it I need to get that done. Sorry about reminding you to paint – unless you want to of course 😝
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I hope your move goes smoothly without too much stress! Can’t wait to see your post! Have a great week!
Smiles!
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It is funny that if you search on Google about “elizabethan chair” all the images it brings don’t fit at all with the style of a real elizabethan chair, they are more into a gothic style… but if I make that search in Spanish it brings the images of real elizabethan chairs, which are quite similar to yours but older in time. Elizabethan period went from around 1550 up to 1603, and Victorian about 1830 up to 1900, it also was a imitation of other styles as gothic and elizabethan, but improved in upholstery and details in the wood as your pretty balloon back chair shows. Love what you did with it, hope you sell it soon and others can enjoy it!
Hugs!
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Oh my goodness Maria! Great discovery! Maybe I’m wrong on styling then … all the images I saw were as you said, more on the gothic side of things! What is the spanish word for Elizabethan? I’d love to look into it more! I’m so glad you shared this with me, I would never have thought about trying it in another language! Have a great day!
Smiles!
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In Spanish you have to look for “sillas isabelinas” which mean Elizabethan chairs. But I don’t think you’re wrong, Victorian style replicated the Elizabethan but added more upholstery, and victorian balloon chairs existed… I would have never thought about trying in another language either, but I made over one too and when trying to get the proper name in English it was a nightmare because the images didn’t fit with the style lol!
Enjoy the rest of the week!
Hugs,
Pili
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Thank you so much for the information! Happy Friday!
Smiles!
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Oh my Terry!! This chair is FANTASTIC!! I so love the colour and that fabric is magnificent!!
That will probably be sold before you set it up at your Market Show in April!
Have a great rest of your week!
Maxine :)
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Thank you so much for the high compliment Maxine! I hope it sells … I have so much more to get out of the garage and I need the space ;) I hope you have a great day!
Smiles!
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You’re very welcome! This chair will FOR SURE sell…. it is so pretty! I know what you mean about a full garage… I’ve managed clear all of mine out except for two large pieces that are mine. It feels great to clear things out doesn’t it?
Have a great day!
Maxine
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Love the paint color and the details on the chair back. Beautiful!
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Thank you Michelle! It is a sweet curvy little chair :) I hope you have a great day!
Smiles!
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1st- your chair looks really wonderful and fresh and I LUV your fabric selection! Another great job and I’d have a hard time selling this classic beauty!
2nd- Terry, so nice to know I’m not alone in this annoyance! EVERYthing is NOT antique and this makes me crazy too. Know what you’re talking about and stop listing everything like it’s a museum-grade piece! Especially when it’s in deplorable condition!
If you don’t even know what you’ve got– and I can’t even come close to reselling it for that price AFTER I’ve put a ton of work into it– how did you even come up with that price???
Btw- the couple folks I said something about this to just rolled their eyes at me, so I generally just keep quiet about it. Thank You for saying it too– and sorry about the tangent.
Catherine
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You are too funny! That is exactly my thoughts! People calling pieces antiques when they were produced in the 90’s etc drives me nuts! There are also people out there who ask waaay too little for true antique items because they don’t know what they have… I usually message them and tell them they could ask a bit more for it ;)
I’m glad I’m not alone on this! ha ha! I hope you have a great day!
Smiles!
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The chair has lovely lines and the fabric is a good choice as it updates it. It gives the chair and contemporary touch.
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Thank you Debra! I like the curves of this chair too! Hope you have a great day!
Smiles!
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Oh my goodness, Terry… This chair is gorgeous! I have wanted a balloon back chair for so long now, but I happen to live in the land where everything from the 60’s and 70’s comes to die. Ha ha.
And Craigslist posts like the one you are describing are a peeve of mine too.
Thank you for sharing with us at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
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Thank you Olivia! I live in an area of 70’s & 80’s treasures too but once in awhile I get a good find like this one! I hope you have a great week!
Smiles!
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my sweet friend you knocked this out of the park! Gorgeous fabric too. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. watch for your feature on Monday xo
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Thank you so very much Katherine for the high compliments! I’m honored to be featured! I hope you had a great weekend and have a wonderful week!
Smiles!
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That new fabric is so bright and drag it instantly makes the chair feel lighter.
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Thank you! I like the freshness of it all together too! I hope you have a great week!
Smiles!
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Wow Terry, this chair is stunning. The beautiful curves really shine now and the fabric is lovely. And you really have a knack for staging and photography. … Featured you at Be Inspired this morning. Thanks so much for joining us!
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Oh my goodness Sharon! I am honored! Sorry for the late reply, I’ve been away from my computer for a bit! Have a great week!
Smiles!
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Hi Terry! True story … recently read a Craigslist ad for a shabby “sheik” dresser … and I don’t think you can blame that one on autocorrect! :D
Love your chair makeover. What a sweet desk / vanity chair it would make. I’m sure it’ll sell right away! Thanks for sharing, Cynthia
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That is super funny Cynthia! WOW! Right? … it can be very frustrating and I feel like letting people know my thoughts sometimes but why bother right? I wouldn’t want to offend either if you know what I mean. Thank you for the sweet comments about the chair. I love it … and once again … if it doesn’t sell then it was meant to be mine! lol!
Have a great week Cynthia!
Smiles!
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Hi Terry, I loved this chair so much! You are featured on my blog for this weeks Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop. I love all of your projects.
Have a fabulous weekend.
Olivia
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Thank you so much Olivia! You made my day! Popping by to say thank you on your site as well! I hope you have a great day!
Smiles!
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