Not Jelliff's style....too heavy in the leg and foot. Definitly worth restoring....it's very very nice...and unless I can't see some things, looks to be all there....just filthy! Never been painted, never had the legs shortened etc. Start out wiping, carefully with shellac thinner to which you have added some ( about 1 part laquer thinner to 4 parts shellac thinner) and clean with paper towel...DO THIS OUTSIDE if you can or at least in a well ventilated room away from flame and sparks. Then re glue the joints and see what it looks like. Then perhaps finish with shellac or varnish....and have re covered. Linda C

Hi, arapaho, and thank-you! I use either Formby's Furniture Refinisher or Minwax Antique Furniture Refinisher, with 0000 steel wool. They are very similar products to me, which melt the old finish off. I don't sand after, so the patina of age (I think) is still there. Both are messy, and this is NOT my favorite part of the project, but I will say when that first bit of gunky, usually very dark finish comes off and reveals the wood - now THAT is fun. Wear heavy gloves as the disposable ones quickly tear. I see that neither product has outstanding reviews on Amazon, but if used correctly, they do the job, although it does require elbow grease. I have some old enamel ware plates, and I pour the product into one, and dip the steel wool in that. Then I scrub the piece, and the steel wool gets gunky from the old finish. DON'T try to save money on steel wool or the refinisher by continuing to use the old dirty steel wool. Get a new piece of steel wool and some pour some clean refinisher and keep going. I use the other plate to put the used steel wool in. A small piece like that bench used up half of my quart can, but what you see above doesn't even have any tung oil finish on it, which is what I use on these old things I re-do. You see that the scratched areas on the horizontal top band just get blended in, and almost disappear. Chibimimi, thanks! I do love that fabric with the wood, but consulted my buddy in Chicago, Chijim, who posts here at times and showed him several other others, and asked his opinion. This was one of 6 fabrics that I laid over the top, and Jim was struck as I was by how it really looks great with the wood. It'll wear better than the silk, also. Not everyone's taste, but fun! And MUCH better than the 4 layers of fabric that I found under the faux leather top, shown below this pic. The 2 oldest are tapestry types on the right, followed by 2 layers of very thin cotton, topped by the faux leather. It was like peeling an onion and each layer had slightly different nails holding it in place! Here is a link that might be useful: Minwax 67300 Antique Furniture Refinisher, 1 Quart

From what you show, the chair is not "antique"...likely dating from the 1960's to 2000. It's a mix of styles loosely called traditional....it has the leg shape of a Queen Anne, the back of a Victorian with a little "directoire" tossed in. It's a good chair....appears well made. Felt and coir and cotton batting were and are still common materials in upholstery There are no signs of age or use on this chair no finish worn where your hands would touch the wood, no bumps of dings from a mop of vacuum on the legs. The metal gliders on the legs were probably original and the fact that there was a tag on the bottom means newer. The decorative nailheads are very modern...most likely an antique chair with original upholstery would have had 2 rows of welting at the bottom. Bottom line, it's not antique....but is a good newer chair. And remember, when assessing age....look for wear. There appears to be none on your chair....not even to the fabric. Cost to professionally redo depends on the fabric you choose and if you choose to have tufting and covered buttons....both are labor intensive. See if you can find someone who will price it by labor alone....tell them you have fabric....then go to a fabric outlet and buy a remnant. You ought to be able to get a very nice piece of upholstery fabric for $25.....then also ask about the cost of new batting and webbing. And show us pictures when it's done.

I'm guessing those seeds that you refer to are actually part of moss. "Better pieces will have more moss and hair, than straw" Read this link: http://lefebvreupholstery.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-furniture-is-stuffed-with-what.html