Hi. I would like to get some opinions from the various Danish cord experts on this site. Attached to this and a following post are photos of two chairs: Hans Wegner CH23 and Poul Volther for Frem Rojle, both with aged (I have assumed original) Danish cord seats.
Both chairs have a warm aged patina to the tops and sides, which are shinier and a little darker than the exposed cord on the underside. Both have some wear marks on the shiner surface where pant seats and legs have worn off the patina, exposing the lighter interior of cord below.
My understanding is that the surface seen in both photos is a natural result of a recipe of dirt, human skin oil, humidity, in conjunction with time, and that the shiny appearance is a natural polished result of the above combined with repeated contact with clothing.
From these photos, does anyone believe that the exterior finish is not a natural process and instead a well-applied varnish (or some other coating) which is now flaking off?
Thanks. 
<img class="wpforo-default-image-attachment wpforoimg" src=" http://old.designaddict.com/sites/default/files 
It's always hard to say with...
It's always hard to say with any degree of certainty unless you can see and handle the piece, but the close-ups of the Wegner chair look to me like they've been coated with something. I've dealt with several varieties of dirt / dust / stains / spills on cord, and it's never manifested in such a uniform way. Just my $.02.
That looks a lot like it has...
That looks a lot like it has been coated with something like poly. Which is something certain people like to do to "protect" the danish cord, because heaven forbid something not be "properly protected."
Danish cord, old or new just isn't shiny.
Or maybe the former owner was fond of dipping his pants in polyurethane and sitting in his chairs, in which case it would qualify as aging, right?
Just so soon as I finish...
Just so soon as I finish working a drink sounds great!
They look like nice chairs, cd. I would expect to find a non-original finish on them. It is my experience that the person who seals corded seats will seat the wood too. It is inconclusive from the photos, but certainly looks possible.
And I restored some Erik Buck chairs recently that someone had slathered a very strong sealer on. Strong paint stripper didn't really take it off even (not the citrus stuff, the serious stuff). Had to sand them in the end, which is a pile of work for a bunch of chairs.
Thanks for the responses....
Thanks for the responses. The wood for both chairs had its original oiled finish, which cleaned up very nicely with the Howards' 1-2 punch.
Can anyone with a vintage corded chair with natural aged finish (including any wear areas) post some close-up photos? I'd like to compare finishes with my chairs to get a better understanding of the differences.
Thanks.
I tried using mineral...
I tried using mineral spirits with a Q-tip on the top, sides, and bottom of the CH23. No coloring (brown or otherwise) came off onto the Q-tip. The cord on the underside did appear to absorb more MS than top or sides, and that would be consistent with any type of more impermiable coating on those surfaces, naturally-formed or otherwise applied.
Leif's photo was indeed interesting for me, as almost all of the old cord examples I've seen had a browner and shiner appearance.
How do forum members view the aesthetic and value difference between Leif's old cord example and my CH23 old cord example. Is one more or less desirable than the other, or rather subject to personal preference?
Thanks again. As usual, I end up better informed after a good DA contribution thread.
Mineral spirits will not dissolve
shellac. You have to use alcohol.
I like your CH23 just fine! I think it's lovely. It's a different look than an old cord seat with no sealer, but it is no less beautiful. I would not redo it just because it was shellacked a long time ago. (I considered redoing my Mogensen chair when I first got it because it looked different, but I came to my senses. When the cord breaks, I'll redo it.)
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