Comments on: Rachael South, Chair Caner & Upholsterer

By: Angela Wigglesworth

Angela Wigglesworth — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 18:00:28 +0000

I was really interested to read your story about your chair caning and loved the photograohs. Last year I wrote a book called The Chair Man, the life story of Romany gypsy, John Lee. He caned chairs in the streets of Sussex and did have an extraordinary ylife. I would be glad to send you a copy of the book if you’d like to see it.
With good wishes,
Angela Wigglesworth

By: Barbara Fister-Liltz

Barbara Fister-Liltz — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 03:16:23 +0000

What a delight! And there collective of art/photos/engravings/etc. made this very special. Thank you!

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 21:50:12 +0000

Another great example of how the blog format with it’s facility to include so many photos and pictures can really bring a story to life. When I saw the title Chair Caner I wondered if the Cries of London illustrations of chair mending would be referenced and behold! there they were in abundance! Great stuff GA…

PS Are those golf tees holding the canes in place?

By: Vancouver Barbara

Vancouver Barbara — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:16:54 +0000

Love your blog. The photographs for this piece are wonderful, as is your writing. The grandfather looks rather like the clown/caner from another era.

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 16:41:30 +0000

Wonderful to see such a fascinating tradition so beautifully carried on.

By: Eva Radford

Eva Radford — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 15:52:00 +0000

Your blog never fails to entertain and inform! Thank you.

By: Ria

Ria — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:08:45 +0000

P.S. Nice to see Rachael is carrying on the family tradition. I’ll definitely keep note if my chairs
need mending.

I wonder if in the past the rushes were obtained from the Eyot in Chiswick for mending the
chairs.

By: Ria

Ria — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 13:37:25 +0000

Fascinating article, photos and drawings. It seems quite a few of the men liked to keep smart/respectable in their suits and ties whilst working and plying their trade as upholsterers.

Thank you.

By: Stella Herbert

Stella Herbert — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 09:52:59 +0000

How one thing does lead to another! Saw the name of the artist on the cigarette card, Julius M. Price. And there’s another fascinating story to tell!

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 08:37:29 +0000

What a wonderful article. Thank you.