Q: I found this chair for only $15, and I loved the lines of it and the cute hidden drawer in the seat. I fully intended to paint it and recover the seat, but when I got it home, I saw that it has an original Mengel Furniture label. There's lots of information on Mengel furniture online, but nothing I've found looks like this chair...
Sent by Annika
I'd hate to paint something that might be more valuable than I thought, but it has been difficult to find additional information on the value of this chair. Has anyone seen a chair like this before? Should I paint it or refinish the wood?
Editor: Annika- we share your love for the lines of this chair and its hidden storage. We recommend recovering the seat to give the chair new life, but wouldn't paint the lovely wood. We're opening this up to our readers for additional thoughts on your fabulous find.
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OK, I'll be the first to comment. I agree that you probably shouldn't paint the chair if it has some value. I think you can clean the wood, though. Ask a furniture specialist what you should use...mineral spirits or something like that perhaps...and then maybe finish with Danish oil. I would use a bold Marimekko fabric for upholstery. Good luck with this project...please post a photo of the finished product, I'd love to see it!
view BellaB's profile
I am going to hypothesis that this "chair" is a vanity bench maybe. Or... less likely a fabulous piano bench (I'd love to see what piano this matched).
I too would re-upholster before paint. The blonde wood is part of what makes the vintage look.
view DahliaCactus's profile
what a beautiful find! I vote for reupholstering without painting too. I love the idea of a hidden drawer.
view kilamanjaro's profile
This chair is from a Mengel dining room set,
called "Sun 'N Sand" from 1952.
I have posted a link to an old advertisement from the
Mengel Co. that ran in Life magazine in 1952.
Sorry I can't be of any help on the value....
But I agree w/ the other posters.....Don't Paint It!!!!
Recover the cushion, restore the wood and Enjoy
a FABULOUS chair.
http://www.tias.com/121/PictPage/1922017686.html
view zoee's profile
oops annika, sorry, it is not exactly the same chair...but very similar.
(the eyes are getting a bit old).....
z.
view zoee's profile
Is the hidden drawer the seat flipping up to reveal storage? If so, probably a piano bench. The width and the low back suggests so.
I'd suggest Danish oil: I've had amazing success with these totally pure and enviro friendly "Tried and True" finishes. Better than standard Danish oil, no fumes, and the finish is so velvety and lovely: http://bit.ly/1kfoRp
view cleverlazy's profile
the drawer slides out the side (and is show in the photo above)
CRAZY, i just finally spotted it.
Dang, this chair is cool.
view DahliaCactus's profile
I can't really give any useful information (other than I think the wood is gorgeous and I'd recover the seat), but BOY!!! That chair is adorable!!!! Congrats on an amazing find!!
view CozyLittleCave's profile
See page 89... http://tiny.cc/Yi9US It's a vanity chair.
view lulu77's profile
Apparently, that drawer is where you put your stockings :)
view lulu77's profile
If you must do something to it, stain it and change out the fabric so you don't ruin the chair.
view ChrisGal's profile
Love, love, love Google books for research.
view lotusmoss's profile
lulu77 you are a genius
view robino032's profile
Thanks to everyone for the comments and information! I took the chair outside yesterday to really take a look at the wood, and everything but the top has varying coats of a mustard yellow paint. I'll keep the top piece wood for sure, but might paint the bottom parts. Now off to find a great fabric, and will post a picture when I'm done-Annika
view anf426's profile