Scavenger Chic

Jungle Table and Chairs, FAO Schwarz Knock Off

• By Joan
• January 23, 2019
• 12 Comments

I’ve been telling you how I’ve been helping to move my middle son, his wife and baby into a new home.  So much more space than their last home and I’m just the person to fill it.

So while I’ve been helping them move into their new home, they’ve been helping me clear out my storage.   The poker table I showed you earlier in the week was originally son #2’s, it’s now out of my house. I also gave them a couple wooden chairs. Next up, and clogging up tons of space in my storage, was this kids table and chairs that were originally featured in FAO Schwarz catalog back in 1991.  The chairs originally sold for $375 each and the table, $438.  There was no way I could afford to pay nearly $2000 for a kid’s table and chairs but I could make them.  So I did.  This was back in 1992.  Even then I was a copycat.

That’s my middle son back in 1992 on his 3rd birthday enjoying his brand new giraffe chair.  And that is his baby on the right 27 years later.

I made all but the zebra.  There really was no reason to make a fourth chair since the table always sat against a wall. 

I’ve been saving this picture since I originally made the pieces almost 30 years ago but I couldn’t find it anywhere.  I cleaned up an entire desk of clutter and still it was nowhere.  I was giving up. A google search turned up nothing and then I decided to try Ebay, not only to see if anyone was selling the set of tables and chairs but to see if I could find the catalog.  

Finding the catalog on Ebay was pretty much a long shot but I had nothing to lose.  To my surprise, someone was selling the old catalog for $20, but better yet, they had taken a few pictures of the pages inside, and there was my set.  So happy day, my desk is uncluttered, I didn’t have to pay $20 for the catalog and  I have my picture.

Since I made these back in 1992 I have no step by step instructions but I can give you measurements and pictures for  how I painted the pieces.

All of my copycat painting was taken from that one FAO Schwarz catalog page.  If I couldn’t see it (the backs) I made up what they may have looked like.  If you don’t like my interpretation feel free to go off on your own.

I don’t think they sold the precut wood rounds 30 years ago, that could be why I made my tabletop square. (Actually, I don’t remember, but it sounds reasonable  🙂  )

First up, the elephant chair.  At the tallest point (tips of his ears) he measures 23 1/2″.  At his widest point (also the ears), 19″. His back is 13″ wide.  For all the back pieces, the measurements I’m giving you are for that individual piece, not the distance from the floor to the top of the back.

For all my chairs I’ve tried to give you a straight on shot of the individual piece whether it’s the back or the side.  You can either draw your pattern free hand or enlarge the picture to the dimensions I’ve given and use these as your pattern.  All chair seats are 10 x 13″, no need for a pattern.

All  the pieces were cut with a jigsaw out of 3/4″ presanded plywood.  Sand well, especially the edges, then prime.  After the primer dries, resand any rough areas.

Attach all your pieces with finishing nails and glue.  Countersink the nails, fill with wood putty and sand.  Any gaps can be filled with paintable caulk.

The  pieces were  then painted with acrylic paint available in a variety of colors from any craft store.  Seal with 2 coats of polyurethane or other non-yellowing varnish.

The elephant side…15″ wide (bottom) and 22 1/2″ at his tallest point.

The seats for all the chairs are 10″ x 13″.

This was the very first chair I made and I found that the back hind legs were too short.  The chair tipped backward far too easily, so if you copy this side, add on the extensions to your pattern.

At the highest point the side measures  22 1/2″ and is 15″ wide.

The back is 13″ wide, the same as the seat, and 23 1/2″ tall at the top of his ears.

Of course the giraffe is the tallest.  He measures 29 1/2″  at his peak and 13″ wide, the same as the seat.

Mr Giraffe’s  seat is 10″ x 13″.

The side piece is 22 1/2″ tall and 15″ wide.

The top of the table is 29″ square with the checkerboard being 17″ square.  Feel free to make a round wood table  like the original.

Cut 2 seals together, back to back, to make up 1/2 of the base.  They are 22 1/2″ tall and 24 1/2″ wide from tail tip to tail tip and toe to toe.

Cut 2 more individual seals to make up the other half of the base.  These 2 seals are 12″ wide at the tail and toe and 22 1/2″ tall.

I used wood glue and L brackets to attach the individual seals to the double seal piece and more L brackets to attach to the table.  Paint them the same color as the table and they all but disappear.

If fits perfectly in the new baby’s room.

Stay inspired.

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