I am sure your chair must have some cracks...
or you would not wish to replace the leather.
But on the slim chance it has not cracks, leather cleaned loves the right oil and polish.
I mention this only because several generations of Americans, anyway, now have been raised thinking one throws leather out, rather than cleaning and reoiling it.
Very sad.
I shudder to think about all of the magnificiently made leather goods foolishly thrown away: saddles, boots, shoes, furniture, purses, coats, Brooks/Ideal bicycle seats, brief cases, and s&m restraints 🙂
Each kind of leather needs its own kind of oil, and many kinds of oil that persons think are good really just plug up the pores of leather and turn it into organic naughahyde. But care for leather and it will come back to life, as surely as seasoning cast iron returns a Griswold skillet to function superior to any skillet made today.
And conditioned leather actually has an odor. I just hate walking into homes full of leather furniture that have no smell of oiled leather whatsoever. Leather without smell is the ultimate emasculation of human goods.
Pecard vintage leather conditoner is the bomb!
Not to overly promoter,but I used this vaseline -like product on an ancient,stiff,dry horsehide MC jacket and it worked wonders! Back to being a supple,rich hide! Used it on my 60's Eames Lounge as well,with similar great results.It actually moistens yet strengthens the leather,and prevents cracking/flaking.I do swaer by it.Of course,the caviat being,it should be massaged/worked into the pores.I actually take an old black leather glove,and use it to do this.In turn,your hands are spared the vaseline like coating,and the glove gets its very own conditioning,too! It's rare,and only sold online(www.pecard.com)They offer a wide range of products,as people use Pecards for their valuable bridle/saddle equipment,too.The red lidded tub is best for vintage leather.
I love Pecard's!
I got a 1 lb. tub on Ebay for a decent price. Some guy on there was selling it regularly in different sizes--dunno if he's still doing it.
I used it on a bunch of beautiful vintage Coach leather bags--the really simple ones they made of aniline dyed cowhide back before the got into all the logo crap and fabric stuff. The leather was worn, stained, dirty, and dry but after Pecarding they looked great!
There's a lot of beeswax in it besides the other stuff. I think it's beeswax, anyway. I love it.
Unfortunately...
...There are many cracks, and two unrepairable holes, one of which is along a seam, and due to the brittle nature of the leather, will only continue to spread. It's a bit far along at this point for conditioning, I'm afraid.
Otherwise, I would definitely leave well enough alone! It does photograph beautifully, although some of that is due to the rather forgiving nature of the low quality pics afforded by my Blackberry... in Hi-res, the problems would be evident, I assure you all.
I am, however, reconsidering alligator or croc embossed leather. Perhaps a straight black leather, or another embossed pattern thats not quite so in-your-face, such as snake or lizard.
A third option, which would be very, very cost effective (read: like a paltry $120 for all materials) is this low-shine patent alligator embossed vinyl I found locally... actually not horrible, although it sounds it.
The room the chair is in is very regency glam hotel, so patterns work... although simple and clean always works too.
Decisions, decisions... suggestions?
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com