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Antique Furniture Restoration & Conservation Silver Restoration & Conservation What Makes Antique Furniture Valuable
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Gallery of work
18th Century European
Walnut Carving
The age of this European Walnut carving is difficult to determine as is its origin. It is a decorative feature placed above a very large fireplace in a panelled reception room. The large house to which it belongs dates back to the mid 18th.century but the house was remodelled around 1860. The house is located just outside Oswestryon on the Welsh border. The wood had been coated with a varnish which had crazed with time and the effect of heat and smoke from the fire. This coating was carefully removed, and after the restoration of the piece it was oiled and waxed.
Secretair Bookcase
This Secretaire Bookcase had been extensively damaged by a fire caused by a lighted candle falling over. Many parts had to be replaced and whole areas re-veneered. The finish was also damaged by water and molten wax from the offending candle. Most of the cornice moulding which was cross grain, had to be replaced. new Boxwood and Ebony stringing had to be made and inlaid. The top of the lower carcase needed full replacement. This was done with veneer of the period obtained from the top of a chest of drawers. W ood and veneer from scrapped cabinets is very valuable and is kept specially for this purpose. It's original finish was left undisturbed so it would be impossible to tell that it had been replaced. All the new parts were bleached, stained, grain-filled and waxed to match the existing cabinet.
The finished Secretaire Bookcase
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