08/03/2026
One of the things Iâve been searching for as Purls comes together is pieces with a story.
This beautiful Victorian parlour chair is believed to date back to the late 1800s. There are several details that point to that period, including the rounded balloon back, the richly carved walnut frame, the graceful cabriole legs, and the original porcelain casters. Chairs like this would have been found in Victorian parlours, where families gathered to visit, read, sew, embroider, and spend time together.
My favourite part is the original hand-stitched needlepoint panel. Knowing that someone patiently stitched every one of those tiny stitches more than a century ago is something I find incredibly special. The chair has had some restoration over the years, but that beautiful piece of needlework remains.
Is it perfect? Not at all.
The wood has marks from a long life. There are repairs. It shows its age.
But thatâs exactly why I love it.
Every scratch, every repair, and every worn edge is part of its story. Instead of hiding its history, it wears it proudly. Kind of a metaphor for life isnât it?
I like to imagine the conversations this chair has witnessed over the last 130 or 140 years. The hands that rested on its arms. The people who sat with their knitting, sewing, or embroidery nearby. It feels fitting that its next chapter will be in a fibre arts shop, surrounded by people continuing those same traditions.
I think this chair has finally found the right home.
What do you think? Would you have brought it home too?
