The chair didn't rightfully belong to me having been left specifically to my brother when my mother died in July of 2004. However, being in such a state of disrepair he decided to take a different item and I agreed to take the chair as part of my inheritance. Once belonging to my paternal grandparents it had been kept in good shape until the arrival of "Kitty" who promptly claimed it as her personal scratching post and, thus, the need for restoration.
My internet search found me at Cathryn Peter's (Wicker Woman's) website and a link to a Florida wicker restorer (That Wicker Guy!) less than two hours from my home in Bradenton, Florida. Via email I sent photos for a repair estimate and ended up taking the chair to Trinity in November. There I met Wayne who had a garage full of wicker in various stages of restoration. In January of 2005 I was able to pick up the beautifully restored piece and gratefully took it home.
In August of that year my sister Susan was visiting and said "If you ever talk to that guy who restored the chair, please let him know how much it means to all the family that he was able to "heal" the chair". So, on a sunny Sunday I sent Wayne an email letting him know just that. I also mentioned that I had seen some wicker pieces while antiquing in the Bradenton area.
Wayne