I found all the posts interesting and helpful in considering the recording of our Danish diningroom chairs bought around 1960. However the cord on these chairs is 2 ply, and every source I have looked at only has 3 ply, even the much more expensive cord said to be made in Denmark exactly like all cord used on Danish chairs made since 1950. Said to be much stronger and more durable than the cheap imitations - should I believe that?
Also the rush style of weaving found on my seats as well as the Hans Wegner rocker (that I also have) was said by spanky to be difficult. I didn't find it so many years ago when doing doll chairs, but would the size make that much difference?
Photo?
Your photo isn't showing up because it's not on a host website anywhere. The URL for it says 
which isn't a complete address.
Anyway--I don't think 3-ply cord is going to make a huge difference in any chair that was made originally with 2-ply cord. The paper cord I've gotten from Frank's Cane Supplies has been excellent quality.
As for the rush-style seats---yes, it does make a difference the bigger you go! The problem is that it's very hard to make a perfect 90 degree turn with the cord at each corner, every time, as you work your way into the center. If you're off just a couple of degrees each time, you will be off by a LOT by the time you get close to the center, the result being gaps that are narrower at one end. They have to be of even width so that you can fit your remaining cords in just right and come out with a solidly woven seat in the end.
Paper cord is just hard to bend neatly and precisely. Genuine rush and seagrass are much more flexible. Paper rush might be too (I've never worked with it so I'm not sure). I wove some Mogensen chairs with seagrass and they came out very nice and were pretty easy to do. There might be a trick to soaking the paper cord just the right length of time (measured in seconds, I think---not minutes) to soften it just enough to do those bends. But not so long that the paper starts to disintegrate. What a pain!
Still curious
Thank you Spanky for the further warning, but every time I think I am going to be reasonable and splurge a bundle to have the work done by a pro, I weaken and know I just have to try it anyway. These chairs have endured daily use in the kitchen (or carried into the livingroom for extra chairs there) since 1965, and the seats on half of them are still in decent shape. I have done some splicing, always robbing from the worst-off chair, and that works well, preserving a uniform patina on the best chairs that are most used (a pillow makes the others usable when badly needed). I plan to start my project by recording the worst-off seat.
I have to wonder though if the cord used in these seats isn't a better quality than the 3 ply cord made from kraft paper that is available so reasonably from sources such as the one you noted, so I am going to try to get an answer as to just what makes the expensive cord made in Denmark much stronger and more durable, as claimed by that source. Their statement that their 3 ply cord is exactly the same as the cord used in all Danish chairs since 1950 may just be a misleading statement.
Nice chair!
Your chairs are very beautiful. Are you sure the seats are paper cord? They look like they could be seagrass but it's hard to tell from the photo. The Mogensen chairs that I rewove in that style looked a lot like yours when finished, and I used seagrass. It's greener and more coarse than paper cord but it ages to a lovely golden brown color.
I don't know who is saying that 3-ply paper cord is so much better than 2-ply paper cord. I think as long as the cord is the same diameter and the plies are tightly twisted, they should compare well. It probably has more to do with the quality of the paper used, anyway. I had some paper fiber rush that looked kind of like Danish paper cord but it was much lower quality paper and didn't wear nearly as well. It was a single ply but I don't think that was the problem. It seemed like it was just cheap brown kraft paper twisted into cord---short fibers that were easily roughed up with wear. Good paper cord gets smoother with wear (until it eventually snaps, that is--but that should take a few decades).
I assume that the Wegner rock...
I assume that the Wegner rocker is woven the same way as the Wegner Wishbone chairs. What I found difficult about weaving the Wishbones wasn?t the size but the actual pattern. Because the chairs are woven slightly different then the average rush style seat the weaving pattern is slightly different. It looks the same but rather then the traditional figure eight clockwise or counter-clockwise pattern the chairs (as far as I can figure out) are woven symmetrical, or at least in the front. Meaning the right side exactly mirrors the left side so on one side you will need to bring your cord threw a loop you make. In my experience, if you don?t do this the front of the chairs look awful and not at all like the originals, if you do they will look great. As far keeping the correct shape throughout the weave, it just takes a little practice. I just wove four chairs, by the third chair they were perfect, I guess I?ll have to re-weave the first two soon. That all being said, I think the chairs you have posted will be a lot easier as they aren?t wrapped around on the sides up front and you?ll be able to weave them with the traditional rush pattern. Most of all I would like to point you to Franks also, the best prices and the best cord I have found. The cord you use makes a difference in the actual weaving, Frank?s offers two different kinds, one is a smother cord, I don?t remember what it?s called, but you?ll defiantly want to use that as it holds it?s shape better and the is extremely helpful with the rush style patterns. Good luck!
It is seagrass
My wife found our old catalog (Illums Bolighus) showing the chairs, available in seagrass, fabric or oxhide. I don't remember the seats ever having any green color. We bought our chairs at a friendly smaller furniture store in Copenhagen. They were designed by Peter Hvidt and O. Molgaard-Nielsin. So seagrass it is, and now I can start checking out sources for 2-ply seagrass and hope to find time to start the project.
This firm lists 2-ply...
This firm lists 2-ply Seagrass, but I do not know what the diameter is, compared to the original on your chairs. They appear to have different sizes available.
http://www.caning.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GR...
cristataman
Frank's Cane & Rush Supply sells seagrass in many weights with approximate diameters given. I didn't see anything about plies but they're very helpful and pleasant on the phone so I'm sure you can call and ask. I've ordered from them many times and have always gotten great service and quality stuff.
http://www.franksupply.com/caning/rush-and-supplies.html#seagrass
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