Some furniture carries more than design or craftsmanship — it carries history.
For the Whitman family of Portland, Oregon, their heirloom 1920s rocking chair was one such piece. It had belonged to their grandmother, Evelyn Whitman, a woman they described with warm smiles as “one of the strongest and kindest souls you’d ever meet.”
Ironically, the chair that had held so much strength over the decades arrived at our studio fragile, worn, and barely able to stand straight.
But from the moment it entered our doors, we knew this project was different.
How It Started ?
One cold Tuesday morning, Sarah Whitman visited Metal Wood Studios carrying photos of the chair and a voice filled with hesitation.
She said softly,
“I don’t know if this is repairable… but this chair was my grandmother’s safe place. She rocked all her children and grandchildren in it. I want it to feel alive again.”
When she brought the chair to our workshop the next day, she held it as carefully as if it were a person.
We could feel the emotional weight right away.
The Condition of the Chair
The rocking chair was nearly 100 years old and had endured:
- Deep cracks on both runners
- Loose mortise and tenon joints
- Faded and chipped lacquer
- Missing wood splinters
- Termite scars on the underside
- The backrest nearly detached
But beneath all the damage, we could see the craftsmanship from the 1920s — hand-shaped curves, dovetail joints, and beautiful American oak grain.
Listening Before Repairing
Before we touched a single tool, we sat down with Sarah and her brother, David. They shared stories of their grandmother:
- How she sat on this chair every morning with her Bible
- How she rocked their mother to sleep in the ‘60s
- How it became the “storytelling seat” for all six grandkids
- How Evelyn even insisted on sitting in it during her last Christmas with the family
By the end of that conversation, we understood that our work wasn’t just about restoration — it was about preserving a piece of a woman they loved deeply.
The Restoration Process
We approached this restoration with the same gentleness Evelyn had shown her family.
1. Stabilizing the Structure
We dismantled the weak joints and cleaned out decades of dust and old glue.
Using traditional joinery techniques, we reinforced each connection — the same method used in the early 1900s.
2. Repairing the Runners
Both curved runners had long cracks. We used aged oak inserts, matched the grain direction, and blended the repairs seamlessly.
The goal was not perfection, but continuity.
3. Rebuilding the Backrest
A split had nearly separated the backrest in two.
We carefully inserted butterfly keys from reclaimed oak, securing the wood while keeping its original character visible — like scars that tell a story.
4. Hand-Sanding & Re-Finishing
We removed the old lacquer slowly by hand, preserving the texture and personality of the wood.
Then we applied multiple coats of natural oil to bring back the warm, honey-brown tone the Whitmans remembered.
5. The Final Touch
We left gentle patina marks in areas where Evelyn’s hands had rested for decades.
Not everything old must be erased — some things are meant to stay.
The Reunion Moment
When Sarah and David returned a week later, their reaction was immediate and overwhelming.
Sarah ran her fingers along the armrest and whispered,
“This feels like Grandma.”
David nodded quietly and said,
“You didn’t just repair it… you brought her back home.”
Moments like that are why Metal Wood Studios exists.
Today, the rocking chair sits proudly in the Whitman living room — once again holding stories, holding people, and holding memories.
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