I had an upholstery business for 15 years. I've redone a few of these. It probably originally had the bottom upholstered w/an attached box pleated little skirt hanging down. Then there would have been a separate cushion sitting on top of that, about 4"thick w/cording on top and bottom. Then it would have probably had a separate back cushion that had little loops at the top to go around those top pieces of wood on each side and also tied on the bottom. Great chair! Sandra