This was a rare opportunity for me. My customer had acquired the couch from a person who knew that at one time it had belonged to her family and he wanted her to have an opportunity to own it again.

My customer’s father, who ordered it new at the time, had driven a horse drawn wagon 150 miles to the nearest train station, which was at the end of the line in Lincoln, Nebraska at the time to bring it home. Over it’s life the couch had seen much wear and tear and it was near total destruction by the time I received it.

I replaced the veneer on the sides, made new carvings on the sides, new legs, re-glued the entire piece, and removed the coats of old paint in order to stain and glaze it to look like a well cared for old piece. Then I took it to my father who has upholstered furniture since the end of World War II and he put a black glove leather on it with a diamond tuft. It was spectacular and is a wonderful family heirloom now.