Fainting Couch

Remember the fainting couch that was in the kitchen?

I took the photo above the summer of 1985 when Aunt Joyce was living with Aunt Winnie for a year. The couch came from Grammy and Grampy's house in Hopefield, and had been recovered many times, the last by Grampy in the 1970s.

 

Dad remembers playing under the head of it when it was in the kitchen in Hopefield. I, and many others have slept on it when the house was full and there was nowhere else to sleep.

 

when the house project started it was put in storage in Montague along with everything else from the house.

It has been sitting in Dad's workshop room in the basement ever since Mom and Dad moved in. The fabric deteriorated and was threadbare. I have had it in the back of my head that someday I would have it restored.

 

So I found an upholsterer in Vernon Bridge, Jim Culbert, and he picked up the couch a couple of weeks ago, and just sent me these photos of it under construction. He says there is "lots of old cloth and feathers and padding" in it. He will put new padding in it, refinish the feet and reupholster. He is saving all of the old materials for me so we have a record. Below are progress photos.

Its fascinating to see all of the layers. I wonder if anyone remembers any of these older covers?

 

In honour of the family history, I ordered Clan Stuart of Bute (which Munn is a sept) fabric from a woolen mill in Scotland and Jim will finish the couch in it. This is our tartan.

I'll post more photos as the work progresses. it will be done and at the house by the time I'm home in May.