NY Good Questions: How Can I Protect My Leather Chair?

2.20chair.jpg Hello AT,

I inherited a leather Eames lounge chair from the 60s/70s that had gone un-sat-upon for probably 30 years.

Now that it's getting regular use, the leather is starting to flake in places and beginning to tear slightly in others.

I'm wondering if there's a good way to condition/protect the leather so that we can continue to use the piece without worrying about totally destroying it (or, at least, destroying it more slowly)...

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.)

Also, is repairing a tiny tear at the seam impossible?

I'm overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting info out there on the internet with regard to leather furniture care.

The Herman Miller site was equally vague on the subject of "conditioning" the leather on an old chair.

I don't want to bar my boyfriend from sitting in the chair. Please, please help!

Thanks! Susannah

Comments (5)

This is not furniture specific.

BUT, for what its worth I grew up with horses and the attendant tack which got MUCH use and was in many cases much older than your lovely chair was cleaned with saddle soap which has protectants and to soften, neat's foot oil. Now... i'm not sure where you'd FIND these items if you live in say... manhattan, but the internets are vast.

You want to keep the leather soft so its flexible. The flaking is because the leather is brittle, which is bad. I would deffinately not use it for a few days after treating it and treat it carefully for awhile until the overall condition of the leather is improved.

posted by DahliaCactus on February 20th 2008 at 6:02am
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I use this AMAZING stuff from restorationhardware called leather CPR.

It cleans, conditions and leaves the leather gorgeous and soft.

posted by kristian on February 20th 2008 at 6:05am
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what a gift... very nice.
please hold on to this and give it to someone special one day. granted, you get a hold on this leather issue. if not, you can always give it to me.:)

posted by andrasklang on February 20th 2008 at 6:23am
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Ohh, see that product has lanolin. That sounds great... i'm going to tell my mom i found a new product for her.

posted by DahliaCactus on February 20th 2008 at 6:43am
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I just bought a new $$$ Eknores Stressless Chair and they suggest Leather Master products, which are available on-line and, in any number of stores.

Before you saddle soap, you need to know how the leather was finished - was it "lacquered" to make it stain resistant or was it unfinished, as mine is? I was told very clearly NOT to saddle soap or get it wet.

I would contact Superior Leather in Manhattan - not cheap but real pros. http://www.superiorleathernyc.com/

I would also email/call Herman Miller and ask them - just because the info isn't on their site...

posted by Taureg on February 20th 2008 at 2:56pm
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