Ryan Fightmaster, MD

Writer. Furniture professional. Former practicing physician.

I was making my rounds through the local donation stores, scanning for furniture opportunities, when this chair caught my eye. It was stunning. Old. And desperately in need of a refinish. But it had heart! (And damn, it was comfortable).

This banker’s chair was popular throughout the 1940s, earning its name by the popularity it held in financial institutions. It’s broad back, along with its ability to swivel backward and sideway simultaneously, allowed for easy communication between tellers and various back-end bankers. This particular chair was crafted from American oak by the Boling family in the early 1900s.

In restoration, we aimed for era-specific techniques alongside a modern update in color. Our goal was give the piece another 100 years of durability, inside the modern home office. We stripped and sanded the topcoat, then stained and toned the entire chair. Lastly, we covered the piece in four coats of protective lacquer. It sold one week after appearance on the showroom floor.

(For a full list of my workshop equipment and supplies, head over to my Best Equipment and Supplies for Refinishing Furniture)