Recycling is actually a "recycled" idea

Recycling is really nothing new. Settlers before us recycled out of the need for necessity. Nothing was wasted. When a chair seat became worn, the seat was replaced with other recycled materials on hand. It was good as new again. No need to toss out a chair that likely took weeks to make by hand, using primitive tools. Throughout the mid-century recycling sorta went by the wayside as consumer goods were readily available through mass production. Today, recycling is in "vogue" - though not necessarily out of the need of necessity but as a conscious effort to protect our environment.

While this group of chairs are valued as antiques and southern cultural history, I collected them for the make-do use of materials for replacing the worn out seats. I love the folky look and the spirit of the maker to create an interesting work with whatever materials were available in his/her surroundings.

The chair on the top left was actually made by former Tennessee slave, Dick Poyner in the 1800's. Originally, the seat would have been of woven materials. At some point in it's life, the worn out materials were replaced with woven wool yarn.

The chair on the top right, attributed to Tennessee chair maker, Billy Spencer has a seat woven from discarded ladies stockings. Various shades make for an interesting look.

The youth chair on the bottom left, attributed to Tennessee chair maker, Robert Baker has a replaced seat of plastic strips. I love the black weaving against the natural patina of the chair. The use of this material has changed the look of the chair to a very modern one instead of the traditional country chair.

The tiny chair on the bottom right, maker unknown, was made for a doll. The seat has been replaced with twine used for various utility purposes.