A Throne for a Day

This is the last of the community woodworking projects that I had to complete for our street party on 4th June 2012 to celebrate the queen's diamond jubilee.

One day my wife came home from work with an old oak carver chair from a dining suite.

The conversation went something like this:

Wife: Can you turn this into a throne?

Me: You're 'aving a laugh aren't you?

Wife: No. I thought you liked a challenge. If I didn't keep making all these weird requests, you wouldn't be half as good as you are. (wife obviously trying flattery now)

Me: I'm sure I can do something with it. Not sure what though.

Wife: Oh and by the way, it only has to look good from the front.

Me: That works for me.

Wife: You can probably do it out of the scrap from the other projects.

Me: Somehow I doubt that. (looking at the scrap pile)

I left this project until I'd finished all my other jubilee projects, hoping for some inspiration. Finally the day came when I had to tackle it. Needless to say, I was on a very tight budget and bear in mind it's only a 'prop' for a game she's got planned at the street party for 235 residents. Thereafter it will be a photo opportunity for the little kids.

Anyhow, I got the chair out and walked around it a few times, looking at it from every angle.

To me, it was all about the back of the chair. The existing back just didn't say throne, so that's where I was going to spend what little money I'd been given.

Off to the store to buy some softwood…

...then I just kind of made it up as I went along. I added some decals and roofs to the new chair back to throw some shadows, painted the bits that would show with a couple of coats of gold paint, upholstered the new back with some foam from an old sofa cushion, then covered it with red velvet. I also recovered the seat. Voila, I had a throne.

Just don't look at the back!

Now I can relax and enjoy the day. I've done my bit.

Thanks for looking.