About 37 years ago in Newark I bought a Victorian armchair which
became my counselling seat. I had met a tax inspector on the train during my days of commuting to London four days a week. He had told me how, when he interviewed suspects he always occupied a higher perch to give him more of a sense of power. I did the opposite because I wanted to keep clients at ease. They were already giving me the power of their trust.
Not only was my chair lower on the ground but it was long in the seat and therefore just right for my legs. Why was this so?
A bustle is a padded undergarment or wire frame used to add fullness, or support the drapery, at the back of women’s dresses in the mid-to-late 19th century.[1][2] Bustles are worn under the skirt in the back, just below the waist, to keep the skirt from dragging. Heavy fabric tended to pull the back of a skirt down and flatten it. As a result a woman’s petticoated skirt would lose its shape during everyday wear (from merely sitting down or moving about). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bustle
This chair accommodated a behind bolstered by a bustle, the owner of which could happily dangle her legs in comfort from nearer the edge. As can be seen, I must have worn my chair to a frazzle. Particularly as there is not much call for voluminous rear ends today, this chair was now occupying too much space.
https://derrickjknight.com/2025/01/27/repairs-and-refurbishment/ contains images of the Victorian rocking chair Dillon used to rock our great-granddaughter Ellie to sleep during her first two and a half years of life. It was already very creaky, and, a twenty-first birthday present from Jessica’s mother, I had never seen it without gaping joints. The above-mentioned post features Andrew Sharp carrying it off for refurbishment.
Today he brought it back, with every joint glued tight and no creaking to be heard.
He had noticed that the triangular blocks to hold the seat at the front were rather too small for the job, and replaced them.
The iron springs beneath the hessian were intact, but the material
needed replacing. Here, in his mobile, Andrew displays this process midway;
and here is the finished article ready to be placed on the blocks.
He is always keen to explain all his careful refurbishment.
Jackie was more than happy to try it out.
Andrew returned the refurbished rocker today and took the bustle chair off to auction. He had volunteered to do this and give us the proceeds. Because he was doing us a favour and we all knew this would simply be regarded as a project for a buyer we asked him to keep the money.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s wholesome shepherd’s pie; quite white cauliflower; crunchy carrots; fried chestnut mushrooms, and tasty gravy, with which she drank Diet Coke and I drank Whole Berry Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.
You did an amazing job of repairing it!
I really appreciated your reflection on sitting higher or lower than the person in front of you.
You did an amazing job of repairing it!
I really appreciated your reflection on sitting higher or lower than the person in front of you.
Thank you very much, Luisa
You’re more than welcome, dear Derrick!
Great work done by a special craftsman!
Jackie is looking terrific in her updated Victorian!
Thanks for sharing, Derrick.
Much appreciated, GP
An improvement.
Thanks very much, Andy
I love seeing old furniture given a new lease on life!
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Marvellous craftsmanship at its very best, Derrick
Thank you very much, Ivor
I love before and after projects. Jackie, you look lovely sitting there and I’m in love with your oft-photographed sweater. It fits my definition of comfort: soft and warm, long length, button closure,and the topper, pockets. I had to part with a favorite earlier this year, but I’ve not found a sufficient replacement. So, back to the chairs, the craftsmanship is stellar. It’s nice that the long chair will be taken to auction to please its new owner. I’m even happier that the need for a bustle and an exaggerated chair are no longer necessary.
Thank you so very much, Alys
Jackie tried numerous times to respond to this, Alys. She couldn’t get it on
It’s certainly hard to part with certain furniture items. I finally parted with a retro chair that had history in it was part of a lounge suite that wouldn’t be part of one now. It was called the TV viewing chair, when TVs were available for home use. It made you sit up straight and watch the TV
The only item left of that suite is a strange little table with screw in legs, but it’s handy…
Thank you very much, Catherine
Ha! and AW! Great title! 🙂 and so interesting about the bustle! 🙂 A chair that had people’s backs AND women’s big bustle-y backsides!
Love your reason it became your counseling seat. That got me joy-teary-eyed…so thoughtful, so kind, so wise, Derrick! 🙂
Oh! Such chairs do give life to a home and create beautiful memories! I so enjoyed reading about your two chairs and your memories!
So lovely that they could be given life again and will go on to bring joy even longer and to even more people!
Jackie’s smile brings the warmth to me on this cold and rainy day! 🙂 🩷
(((HUGS))) to both of you!! ❤️❤️
I like your counselling seat, Derrick, and your reasons for sitting lower than than client. You are a good man.
Thank you so much, Lavinia
Your chair was lower on purpose…still mulling that over for a little while. I never heard anyone say they did that before, for any reason. Really great. I love it.
Thank you so much, Rose
It is truly comforting to see somebody repairing rather than throw away.
Thank you very much, Sylvie
I was rather hoping the bustle chair might be retained. Loved the history of the chair. Jackie looks quite at home in that rocker. Ready to invite myself to dinner.
The bustle chair would cost a lot to reupholster; no-one chooses to sit in it and it takes up more room than the rocker. Thanks very much, Pat
Good job keeping the old chair working. I love the soft green colors…. like moss in the forest.
Thank you so much, JoAnna
That was an interesting essay on chairs and human psyche.
Thank you so much for reading and picking up all that, Uma
I love to see a great piece of furniture given a new lease on life!
Thank you very much, Aletta
I enjoy seeing the refurbishment of beautiful old furniture – and I appreciate your comment about trust. That is so very important.
Thank you very much, Anne
I hadn’t really thought of chairs having to accommodate bustles, and of course, the women sitting upright because of their corsets. (Many times if I sit back in chairs, my feet don’t reach the floor.) I like that you considered your height when counseling others.
Great craftsmanship with the chairs!
Thank you so much, Merril
I enjoyed the history behind the chair and love seeing refurbishment of beautiful and old furniture. I feel the quality of furniture was better back in the day.
I love your added historical tidbit! And the story ‘behind’ both chairs 🙂