 |
Product Search
|
 |
|
Article Search
|
|
|
Resources
| |
|
Home > Preserving Antique Furniture Part 2 Restoration Techniques That Protect The Patina
We Have Found 6 Products for your search of Preserving Antique Furniture Part 2 Restoration Techniques That Protect The Patina.
Displaying Items Page 1 and Articles Page 1.
Pages: | 1 | 2 |  |
|
|
| Please vote and
rate this. |
Preserving Antique Furniture - Part 2 - Restoration Techniques That Protect the Patina
by Denise Koszek
With some furniture, the patina is most important to the overall effect and, when stripped and refinished, the piece often seems to have lost character and needs another 100 years of grime and hard wear to get it back to where it started. And, under present-day circumstances, it would be unlikely to occur, as most people do not have the time to maintain their furniture as often as in the past; that is, furniture is not being polished, waxed or even handled as often, slowing down the build-up in quirks and around hardware which is very important in attaining a good patina.
In many cases furniture is cherished and not used, just admired. Originally these articles were utilitarian pieces and used for their practical purposes, therefore gaining a rich, well-worn patina through daily usage. They were not treated as valuable assets or as decorative items. Furniture needs to be used and maintained, and the more this is done the more it will glow and will return you a compliment for your devotion.
Provincial and rustic furniture pieces seem to have an aura of their own, with red oxide finishes and powder blues worn through to the base timbers brought to gloss with body oils, kitchen oils and greases, as well as just plain dirty hands and daily use; this should he retained, not lost. Respect original painted furniture for what it is, and also painted furniture with original varnish underneath. Sometimes these pieces have more character and appeal as is, rather than stripped and refinished.
In our experience, radical restoration is only necessary in cases where furniture has been altered, is incomplete or the finish has already been partially or totally removed by others. Even in those cases there is still hope, by balancing the other work or distressing the new work depending on what needs to be done; each case is evaluated individually, as no two are restored in the same manner or by using production line-type processing.
Even recently painted pieces can be caringly stripped by hand rather than completely washed down, to avoid disturbing the patina of the unfinished surfaces. Then repolished by hand, these pieces are often accepted as in original condition with just the finish revived, if done properly. A considerable amount of old polish is retained and all of the grain filling, if the piece is after 1860.
These statements may sound extreme, but one must appreciate that quality items in good original condition very rarely surface, and when they do, we must ensure that we do our best to preserve them. If you have a good piece of furniture, go to a professional restorer for advice. I am sure they would rather advise you than see another old finish hosed off down the garden path after being stripped by a zealous home restorer.
Let me say there are times where it is necessary for drastic action, but this must still be executed caringly and not always with a budget in mind. Otherwise, a large portion of our heritage will be ruined by this generation, depriving the next. Antique furniture should show evidence of its age; otherwise, what's the point? Remember, we are only guardians.
This article has been written by Denise and Steven Koszek of Gumnut Antiques on the NSW Central Coast, Australia. Go to the [http://www.gumnutantiques.com.au]online Antique Shop to browse antique furniture, jewellery, vases, pottery, and lots of other collectables.
We buy and sell antiques and collectables. Other services we offer are:
Purchasing and sales.Insurance valuations (fixed rate).Probate valuations.Pre-purchase appraisals.Estate clearances.
About the Author
This article has been written by Denise and Steven Koszek of Gumnut Antiques on the NSW Central Coast, Australia. Go to the online Antique Shop to browse antique furniture, jewellery, vases, pottery, and lots of other collectables.We buy and sell antiques and collectables. Other services we offer are:Purchasing and sales. Insurance valuations (fixed rate). Probate valuations. Pre-purchase appraisals. Estate clearances. Insurance consultations.
Related Articles (0 votes) How To Repair Broken Antiques
by Victor Epand. Despite the advances in technology throughout the years, the value and popularity of antiques still seem to grow. People are realizing just how valua... products, articles
- (0 votes) How To Preserve Your Antiques
by Victor Epand. Most antiques have been passed down from one generation to the next, and in most cases have already gone through a good deal of ware and tare. Theref... products, articles
- (0 votes) Vessel Sinks Work With Antiques
by Ken Melchert. We all need a sink to clean up in, and the proliferation of great designer vessel sinks has opened a world of possibilities to recycle all manner of ... products, articles
- (0 votes) Buying Real Antiques Through Online Live Auctions
William Walberg First time antique buyers may have worries, especially if they are trying to find good deals through Internet live auctions. There are... products, articles
|
