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The Purpose & Significance of Chair Legs

By
Industry Observer 0506509

Photo Journalism 5/3/2025

 

Anything You Think Is Useless Can Be Useful

 

Creative people are very special

Who would have guessed

this old chair

could one day stand alone

on its own pedestal

inside a gallery

for others to admire

And so, I ponder

---Patricia Feager

 

 

Legs in Furniture: Chairs and Tables

You would expect to see a chair and chair legs in a home or a restaurant, but have you ever seen one in an Art Gallery? I saw one in a Gallery in Denton, Texas. This got me to thinking. Legs are not only fundamental to human anatomy but also crucial components of furniture such as chairs and tables. The legs of a chair or table provide stability, ensuring that the furniture stands firm and can support weight without tipping over. This structural integrity is vital for the usability and safety of the furniture. Whether it's a dining table or a chair, sturdy legs allow us to sit comfortably, work efficiently, and enjoy meals in a secure environment.

 

The Annoyance of Wobbly Furniture

Despite their importance, chair and table legs can become wobbly over time due to wear and tear, resulting in an unstable and frustrating experience. A wobbly chair or table can be particularly annoying, especially in public places such as restaurants. Many of us have encountered the balancing act required to stabilize a wobbly table or chair while trying to enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal. The quick fix of sticking paper under the leg may offer temporary relief but often fails to provide a lasting solution. Just a few days ago, I went into a coffee shop and the server escorted me to a wobbly table. When I mentioned it, the server quickly walked away with some paper to stick underneath the leg of the wobbly table. I was annoyed because there were many empty tables and chairs. By the way, I liked the blue mug and my coffee too! Rather than complain, I got up and moved to a stable table. 

 


A good half of the art of living is resilience
---Alain de Botton

 

Creative Fixes and Artistic Transformations

Repairing broken chair legs can be approached in various ways, from practical fixes to artistic endeavors. I have a deep appreciation for creative minds. While some people replace rather than fix, or prefer to restore the functionality of their furniture, others may embrace the opportunity to create a piece of art. What's my take away? A broken chair leg in an art gallery, for example, can symbolize resilience and the beauty of imperfection. This artistic perspective encourages us to see value in items that might otherwise be discarded, reminding us that everything deserves love and attention. There is something about a good cup of coffee that gives me relaxation. Cerulean Blue Coffee Shop always serves coffee in a cool blue mug. I find cranky people who complain more annoying than a chair or table that wobbles. Also, I am curious about what you have to say about a wobbly chair or table legs? 

Posted by

Patricia Feager

Comments(18)

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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Patricia. As I ponder a bit my thinking is leaning towards "one man's junk is another man's treasure". It is all about individual perception. No blue cup, but I will ponder on over a cup of coffee. Enjoy your day. 

May 04, 2025 04:12 AM
Patricia Feager

Wayne MartinOne man's junk is another man's treasure is a timeless quote. I say, anything old, beware of mold.

I hope your day is going well!

May 04, 2025 12:16 PM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Great insight into what useless can be turned into useful with little bit of thought!!! Thanks for sharing Patricia.

Many of us have encountered the balancing act required to stabilize a wobbly table or chair while trying to enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal. The quick fix of sticking paper under the leg may offer temporary relief but often fails to provide a lasting solution. 

May 04, 2025 04:19 AM
Patricia Feager

Hi Sham Reddy CRS - It is amazing what ideas comes to fruition from creative minds! 

Have a great day! 

May 04, 2025 12:18 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good morning! That art gallery chair definitely needed some work! :-)

I seem to recall putting match books under table legs while out in public dining and the table was wobbly! Personally, I think a wobbly table in a restaurant needs to be fixed ASAP so diners can enjoy their meal without worrying about balancing items. I remember eating on a training ship, now THAT was wobbly!

May 04, 2025 04:53 AM
Patricia Feager

Kat Palmiotti - Matches always worked for wobbly chairs or tables. Unfortunately, I don't even see matches in restaurants or coffee shops anymore. 

That must have been rather sea sickening trying have a lunch & learn aboard a training ship! I wonder who had that wobbly idea?

May 04, 2025 12:20 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Patricia Feager - that's when I was at sea for three months with the SUNY Maritime ship - we were in some rocky waters and everything was sliding all over the place, including us. We had to hang on to the edge of the table so we didn't slide across the floor.

May 04, 2025 12:41 PM
Kat Palmiotti

Patricia Feager - I know it doesn't sound like it, but I LOVED that job! I learned so much about the maritime industry, and I had an amazing time exploring new places (Gibraltar, Azores, Liverpool, Reykjavik Iceland. I wish I could do that again!

May 04, 2025 06:03 PM
Patricia Feager

Kat Palmiotti - I'll bet you couldn't wait to get off that ship! Just closing my eyes and trying to image what you went through for three months with the SUNY Maritime ship got my dizzy! I would think the edges of the table were wet and hard to hang on to, too! You made the right choice to quit that job!

May 04, 2025 12:55 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good Sunday morning, Patricia. The creative reuse of discarded items is a special talent. 

Have an outstanding week.

May 04, 2025 05:27 AM
Patricia Feager

Roy Kelley - I don't have the patience to mess with reusing discarded items. Yet some people are very talented in that department!

May 04, 2025 12:21 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Wobbly chairs are annoying and need to be fixed so that we have stability while we are sitting, haha.  We need stability in our lives as well, so wobbly things should be fixed.

May 04, 2025 05:39 AM
Patricia Feager

Brian England - Try. A temporary fix never resolves the problem. 

May 04, 2025 12:21 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Patricia - the power of fun, function, form and more than a few things come to mind while reading your post.  

May 04, 2025 05:42 AM
Patricia Feager

Michael Jacobs - I wonder what you're thinking. I'm sure it's good and interesting too!

May 04, 2025 12:22 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Patricia. You did what I would have done... moved to a different table. But I probably would not have waited to report it to the waiter. I would just have moved.

May 04, 2025 06:00 AM
Patricia Feager

Nina Hollander, Broker - I only mentioned it to the server because she asked me why I moved to another table. 

May 04, 2025 12:23 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Patricia,
Your post had me thinking... not just about wobbly tables, but about my own legs lately! Let’s just say they’re not quite as reliable as they once were, and much like that chair in the gallery, they remind me daily that stability is not something we can take for granted. I appreciate the way you connected furniture to resilience and even beauty. Whether it's a shaky table or a creaky knee, a little grace goes a long way.

BTW: One of my favorite programs is Flee Market Flip, where the participants bring old things back to life in new ways.

May 04, 2025 09:23 AM
Patricia Feager

Carol Williams - Actually, I started this blog post including human legs, but it got so long, I stuck with the chair in the picture with the broken legs. I may still write about what I had in mind. Afterall, wobbly legs are problems for many seniors!

Long ago, I saw shows similar to what you mentioned but it wasn't called Flee Market Flip. I think the shows were coming out of the state of Illinois. I do remember that whatever the show was that I watched, it was very interesting!

 

May 04, 2025 12:27 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

This post has been Featured in the BananaTUDE Group.

May 04, 2025 09:25 AM
Patricia Feager

Awe! Thank you, Carol Williams. This was a nice surprise and very thoughtful of you too! 

May 04, 2025 12:28 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Patricia I agree a wobbly chair or table can turn a pleasant experience into a VERY annoying unpleasant one.

May 04, 2025 10:48 AM
Patricia Feager

George Souto - There seems to be an epidemic of wobbly chairs and tables in restaurant chairs and tables! I'll be glad when we get quality products from America! 

My son-in-law told me long ago, the reason why American's don't have enough to live on for retirement is because they spend all those years buying and replacing things that break. The lifetime of products gets shorter and shorter and costs more to replace too.  

I thought about that for years. For example, my first kitchen appliances were a new avocado stove and refrigerator. They both never had anything wrong with them. I just go sick of the color, and I gave them away. Then I got a new almond stove. It lasted less than three years. 

May 04, 2025 12:35 PM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Wow, what a cool thought about finding beauty in unexpected places, Patricia Feager! It really makes you think about what we value. 🤔 Thanks so much for sharing your unique perspective! ✨

May 04, 2025 12:57 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Patricia- Larry dislikes adding to the landfill so when he can he likes to restore or repurpose things. A neighbor put a nice iron bench at the curb. We brought it back with the idea of using the back as wall art or turning it back into a bench. 

Larry fixed the front leg that was broken...take a look

 

May 04, 2025 05:06 PM
Patricia Feager

Oh, my goodness Kathy Streib - I love what Larry created! I could never afford to buy that outdoor fabulous bench. Larry is truly creative and artistic! Thank you for sharing!!!

May 04, 2025 05:34 PM
Peter Mohylsky Gulf Front Homes
Property Management International-Destin - Inlet Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. 

May 05, 2025 03:51 AM
Patricia Feager

Peter Mohylsky, most definitely, one man's trash is another man's treasure. 

May 06, 2025 03:33 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Patricia the moment I saw you title for this post I immediately recalled and exhibit I had seen a number of years ago on.....you guessed it- legs!  At first I was like.....huh?  But then I 'got' how amazing legs are and just how different they all can be and still work.....or not.  Which is the case with one of mine right now!  But it's an art piece in the works...LOL!  Too be completed soon!

May 05, 2025 09:55 AM
Patricia Feager

Anna "Banana" Kruchten - Did you see the movie "A Christmas Story," about a kid growing up in the 1950's? His father came home with a woman's leg that was a lamp! 

Our legs really are amazing! We need to listen to our legs to make them last!

May 06, 2025 03:32 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten

No don't recall ever seeing that movie Patricia.  As for legs.... I sure know how important they after all I'm dealing with now....and I'm working on getting  left one back in tip top condition.

May 07, 2025 09:20 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

We all know that Michael Jacobs  is the Prince of Pondering. I would like to declare you  the Princess of Pondering. You saw this chair and your mind took off...well done!

May 06, 2025 07:27 AM
Patricia Feager

Thanks, Sharon Tara.  

May 06, 2025 03:27 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Patricia,

OMG nothing more annoying than being at a restaurant and the table you are sitting at is not level! I had to laugh at Kat Palmiotti because I remember putting match book covers underneath a leg to stop the table from feeling wobbly!! I don't see it as much anymore but folding a piece of paper in squares and slipping it under can often do the trick!

May 06, 2025 02:41 PM
Patricia Feager

Dorie Dillard Austin TX - Matches were the only good quick fix for wobbly tables and chairs. They have disappeared and very hard to find in public places. It makes me wonder how many Quick Trick Fixes other business owners use when serving the public. 

May 06, 2025 03:27 PM
Eleanor Thorne
Equity Resources - Cary, NC
Advantage Lending 919-649-5058

I have been re-furbishing our dining room set this year (taking my time) and I am coming to some of the same conclusions - well done!

May 08, 2025 06:19 AM
Patricia Feager

Eleanor Thorne - Good luck! I recall when I was re-furbishing an antique built in buffet. It had 11 coats of paint that I had to scrape, sand, and paint. I will never do that again.

Seriously, I wish you good luck!  

May 08, 2025 06:21 AM
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

Once again you have proven you can write about anything and make it interesting and thought provoking! My hat is off to you Patricia Feager 

Did you see the full moon tonight? They call it the Flower Moon! 

May 11, 2025 11:53 PM