Beautiful ball and claw and acanthus leaf carvings .. and by our own British craftsmen ...

Hand carved acanthus leaf and ball and claw legs which are standard in many of our fireside wing chairs  are created by an older generation of skilled British carvers. This is  British craftsmanship at its very best, and I hope not an art in decline in this country...  I enjoy staining and polishing these legs to highlight the detail of form and grain. After applying two or three coats of button polish, with a light sanding in between with fine wire wool, the legs are then waxed and buffed.   

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Hand Stitching versus Metal Grip

I always insist on hand stitching back covers  using slipping thread despite the rather lengthy process! This is because not only does the finish have a traditional, tailored look but also it is 100% safe!. Metal grip, which is an alternative and quicker method of securing back covers, can wear through the fabric over the years.  Slipping needles, which are curved, are easy to use and with careful placing of stitches, should ensure the seam is invisible! It is a bit of an art but my tip is to pin both fabrics together stretching the back cover fairly tightly, and always start the stitch a little above/behind the end point of the last stitch, so that when the thread is pulled the fabric sits flat producing an invisible seam.

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