Thread: Black Calico / Baize

G'day Quercus,

FWIW I had an old Vic desk with a fabric inlay; an antiques person told me it would originally have had a leather inlay.

Quercus, this is ringing a bell somewhere at the back of my mind. If Wouldwood doesn't come to your aid first, I'll try to dig it out. I have a vague recollection that Terry Gleeson came across something similar.

I've seen Victorian writing surfaces that were covered with 'leather cloth' i.e. an early type of faux leather with a dark canvas backing. The 'leather' in some of the examples I've seen had disintegrated, leaving just the canvas backing, which, by intent or otherwise, has become polished.

Another very unlikely explanation is that your writing surface has been replaced with horsehair (normally used for covering the seats of some Victorian chairs). If it's horsehair, it will be frayed around the edges as it's quite springy stuff.

Originally Posted by Woodwould

Another very unlikely explanation is that your writing surface has been replaced with horsehair (normally used for covering the seats of some Victorian chairs). If it's horsehair, it will be frayed around the edges as it's quite springy stuff.

That's what I was trying to think of. But yes, it was in the context of upholstering a chair, not a desk. Thanks WW