Tuesday 21 August 2012

Mart Stam Chair Help

I found two Mart Stam chairs randomly at a second hand furniture store. The owner didn't seem to know what he had, so I scooped them up for cheap.


That isn't to say that they don't need a little love.
The overall aesthetic of them, however, is great. Bauhaus style is timeless as far as I am concerned.
To be honest, I just like me a good cantilever chair!



The chair is leather and bent steel.
Unfortunately, the underside of the leather seat, which was originally lined with a card-like substrate, has started to tear and crumble apart. Mind you, after 70+ years, I guess that is to be expected.

I have a theory on how to potentially fix this issue; since it is leather, taking the seat to a shoe repair place (I have one in mind that has always been phenomenal) to be re-stiched.
The main issue is what to do about the support.
Should I replace it with cardboard again?
If so, where do I find something like that.

I had one upholsterer suggest seeing a luggage repair place that would have something.
Or perhaps I should skip that part and replace it with something else...
I dunno. If you in the blog-o-sphere have any suggestions, send them my way!

http://wheelehouse.blogspot.ca/2013/03/easy-artwork-medical-illustration.html
The chairs have made a welcome addition to our entertainment room, and even Grey-dog loves them.

18 comments:

  1. Hi there, did you end up getting the chairs restored? And if so, how did you go about it? I have the same issue with 4 white ones. Also, was the rest of the leather in good shape? Did you find it to be hard? I'm thinking of treating or conditioning mine and am wondering which product to use. Saddle soap? Car seat leather care products? Thanks in advance!

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  2. The leather is supposed to be somewhat hard to reduce the ability to stretch out. But ya, any leather cleaning/conditioning product with work.

    It depends on your location, and what types of places you have available to you, but some shoe repair places will take it on if you bring them only the pieces that need to be sewn, rather than the whole chair.

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  3. I have a similar chair. However, I need the support that goes under the seat that stretches to both sides. It appears to be adjustable. Does anyone have any idea where I can find this part?

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    Replies
    1. Did you ever find replacement support bars?

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  4. I am missing one of the metal bars that supports under the chair and need to get new leather parts made. Any idea where I can find replacement metal components? Thanks

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    Replies
    1. Hello,
      Did you ever find a replacement support bar for your chair? I’m looking for one if you know where I can find one!
      Thanks.

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    2. No, but then my support bar was fine. The layer under the leather was what I was looking for.

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    3. Hey Pat love you post. I have a very similar chair with the same situation. Did you end up using cardboard??

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    4. No, I ended up using a faux leather patch. For now...

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  5. Did anyone ever find the replacement metal bars? Have been researching for hours and cannot seem to find a place to get them...

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    Replies
    1. Not as of yet. Homeward Furniture was the closest I got.

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  6. i am also looking for 1 replacement metal bar for under the seat!

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  7. This is really a good source of information, I will often follow it to know more information and expand my knowledge, I think everyone should know it, thanks Share more about upholstery leather available

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  8. Beth in Ottawa27 May 2022 at 14:26

    I am in the same boat with my 2 Mart Stam chairs. I had them all black duct taped up but that isn't working anymore. So you used a faux leather patch? Did you get a professional to do this for you? I'd love to see a photo of the underneath and how it turned out. I would love to take the chairs apart and cannot figure out how to do it. It is like a jigsaw puzzle...

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    Replies
    1. Hi Beth, IDK if you figured it out yet or not since remark was almost 1 year ago.

      Anyhow, FYI for others.

      The chair is quite simple in design.
      It is held together by 2 support bars + nuts and 4 screws.

      Remember:
      • LEFT is loose
      • RIGHT is tight

      Turn the nuts holding the bottom support bars LEFT to loosen them.
      Once sufficiently loose, the bars will slip out of their holes.

      To remove the leather back & seat panels, you will need to loosen screws on left & right L-shaped frame tube.
      The screws are hidden and accessible via perforations in leather panels.

      After screws are loosened, the L-shaped frame tubes will come off & leather panels can slip off/out.

      To re-assemble, reverse procedures.

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    2. Hey Geo - sounds like you are really knowledgeable about the chairs! I have been looking for the spacers for the connection points at the front of the seat (and the screws I think) for two chairs that I have where the seat fronts have let go...I have gone as far as to reach out to Matteo Grassi in Italy to no avail to get replacement parts. Anyone have any luck finding either repair or parts in Toronto Canada?

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    3. Hi Anonymous. Sorry for late reply as I do not monitor this site. I do not have "source" for replacement parts, but I have set of 8 chairs - 6 which are in use, 2 were used as donors. 99% of the Stam chairs are fakes - some better than others.

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  9. Does anyone know where you can purchase the caps that cover the tubes? I am missing one on the front end of the seat so it is chrome plated

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