A few years ago, I purchased these Marcel Breuer Cesca chair lookalikes (I've always assumed they're not the real thing) for quite a steal on Facebook Marketplace (~$200 total for four chairs).

When I purchased them, they were in great condition. Overtime, the cane started to give out, the chrome developed rust, and the cane/wood got a bit musty.

Needless to say, these chairs were begging for a tune up.

Before

During

My process:

• Removed the chair backs and seats from the chrome bases

• Removed the rust from the four chrome bases and polished them

• Sanded and restored the wood on the four seats

• Removed and replaced the cane in three of the seats

• Cleaned the wood/cane in the chair backs with vinegar to address musty smell and remove discoloration

• Re-attached the backs and seats to the bases with new hardware

I was pretty pleased with the cane and spline color match. Although I did realize the spline I purchased was a tad too big for this project.

After

When all was said and done, the chairs felt sturdy, the chrome was shining, and that musty smell was gone!