Buckminster Upholstery, of Falls City, was recognized with the 2015 International Achievement Award for design excellence in specialty fabrics applications for its work with an 1890 Turkish Rocker.
The piece is one of the original 12 apostle’s chairs from the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, UT. It was passed down to the apostle’s grandson from Tucson, AZ, who shipped the chair to Kim Buckminster for restoration to its original condition, based on archival photos. Over 300 hours were put into the project. Restoration included re-gluing and refinishing the white oak rocker base, extensive springing to the hand forged steel framework, plus many hours of hand stitching and sculpting horse hair and leather.
The chair was recognized in the competition’s upholstery category. For more than six decades, IAA has recognized excellence in design and innovation, highlighting truly spectacular work in the specialty fabrics and technical textiles industry. The IAA competition is sponsored by Industrial Fabrics Association International, a not-for-profit trade association whose over 1,600 member companies represent the growing international specialty fabrics and technical textiles marketplace. IFAI received a total of 293 entries from 11 countries that were submitted for 31 categories in this year’s competition.
Winners were selected based on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function. Judges included industry experts, editors, architects, educators and design professionals who were chosen for their knowledge in a particular field of study or product area.
This masterpiece is a milestone in celebration of 40 years in the upholstery trade and it’s many other aspects of antique restoration. Kim has been in the trade for more than 40 years and has won numerous awards for his upholstery work. Specializing in traditional, restoration and general upholstery, Buckminster has provided his services for museums, government offices and clientele throughout the Midwest.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.