Description
BV509 Mixed Animal Hair for Traditional Upholstery
BV509 Mixed Animal Hair is a high-quality natural upholstery filling traditionally used when restoring chairs, sofas and other upholstered furniture.
The blend contains:
- 40% pig hair
- 40% South American horse hair
- 20% cattle tail hair
Animal hair has long been valued by upholsterers because the fibres are naturally resilient and springy. Unlike softer loose fillings, the hair can be teased, shaped and built into defined upholstery layers while retaining useful body and recovery.
It can be used as a first or second stuffing depending on the construction and finish required.
Traditional Animal Hair Upholstery Filling
Natural animal hair is closely associated with traditional and heritage upholstery.
It is particularly useful where the aim is to recreate the construction, feel and appearance of older furniture rather than replacing the original materials with modern foam or synthetic fibre.
Typical uses include:
- Antique chair restoration
- Traditional armchairs
- Dining chair seats
- Sofa restoration
- Upholstered backs and arms
- Footstools
- Traditional seat pads
- Furniture rebuilding
- Heritage upholstery
- Mattress and bedding restoration
For other traditional filling materials, browse our Hair & Coir Upholstery Fillings range.
Why Is Animal Hair Used in Upholstery?
Animal hair combines several useful characteristics for traditional upholstery.
Natural Resilience
Hair fibres naturally flex and recover, helping the filling retain body rather than simply compressing flat.
Excellent Shape Building
Loose hair can be teased and distributed by hand, allowing the upholsterer to control the shape of seats, backs, arms and edges.
Breathable Structure
The open structure created by the fibres allows air to move through the filling, which is one reason animal hair has historically been used in upholstery and bedding.
Traditional Performance
For antique and period furniture, animal hair allows restorers to retain a method of construction much closer to the original upholstery.
First & Second Stuffing
BV509 mixed animal hair can be used as either a first or second stuffing.
A first stuffing is generally responsible for creating much of the fundamental shape and body of a traditionally upholstered section.
A second stuffing provides additional refinement and comfort before the final covering layers are applied.
The exact construction will depend on the furniture, the original upholstery method and the required finish.
Animal Hair for Traditional Seat Building
A traditional upholstered seat is usually constructed from several materials working together.
Depending on the furniture, these may include:
- Jute webbing
- Upholstery springs
- Springing twine
- Hessian
- Coir or animal hair
- Felt or wadding
- Calico
- Top fabric
For rebuilding the underlying support structure, browse our Springs & Webbing range.
For traditional hand stitching and spring tying, see Sewing Threads & Twines.
Working With Loose Animal Hair
Mixed animal hair should normally be teased apart before use rather than placed into the furniture in dense clumps.
This allows the upholsterer to:
- Distribute the filling evenly
- Build gradual contours
- Avoid hard spots
- Create defined edges
- Control the finished firmness
- Work the filling into shaped furniture sections
Traditional upholstery tools such as regulator needles, curved needles, skewers and pins can make shaping and controlling the filling considerably easier.
Browse our Needles, Pins & Skewers range for specialist hand-upholstery tools.
Mixed Animal Hair vs Hair & Coir
Both are traditional upholstery fillings, but they provide different levels of firmness.
Mixed animal hair is finer, springier and generally softer.
Hair and coir mix combines animal hair with coarse coconut fibre to provide greater structure and firmness.
Choose BV509 mixed animal hair where you want:
- A traditional natural filling
- Greater refinement
- Natural spring and resilience
- A more flexible material for shaping
- First or second stuffing applications
For a firmer alternative, see our 50/50 Hair & Coir Fibre Mix.
Mixed Animal Hair vs Ginger Coir
Ginger coir is substantially coarser and firmer than animal hair.
It is particularly useful for strong foundation layers where structure is more important than softness.
Animal hair is generally preferable where a finer, more resilient finishing or stuffing layer is wanted.
For firm foundation work, see Ginger Coir Fibre.
Loose Animal Hair vs Rubberised Hair
Loose animal hair offers maximum control because the upholsterer can tease, shape and distribute it by hand.
Rubberised hair is formed into a consistent sheet, which can be quicker to use where a uniform thickness is required.
For sheet-based upholstery work, see our Rubberised Hair Sheet.
Natural Upholstery Material
BV509 is made entirely from animal hair rather than synthetic polyester filling.
For restoration projects where traditional materials and construction methods are important, this makes it particularly appropriate.
The real advantage, however, is not simply that it is natural — it is the combination of resilience, spring, breathability and workability that has made animal hair useful to upholsterers for generations.
Available Bag Sizes
BV509 Mixed Animal Hair is currently available in:
- 3.25kg bag
- 10kg bag
The quantity required will depend on the size of the furniture, depth of filling and whether the hair is being used as a first or second stuffing.
For larger projects or help choosing the correct filling, contact Livedale.
Why Choose BV509 Mixed Animal Hair?
- 100% natural animal hair filling
- 40% pig hair
- 40% South American horse hair
- 20% cattle tail hair
- Naturally resilient and springy
- Suitable as a first or second stuffing
- Excellent for traditional upholstery
- Suitable for furniture and heritage restoration
- Can be teased and shaped by hand
- Available in 3.25kg and 10kg quantities
Explore the wider Upholstery Fillings range for traditional and modern filling materials.
