Antiques Restoration
Clean, Repair, or Refinish?
A question that is frequently posed to an antique dealer is: "Should I restore my piece of furniture?". The best solution is to have an experienced professional evaluate the piece. Reputable antiques dealers are a good source for referrals for appraisers.
The first step is to ascertain exactly what you have. Please bear in mind that a period piece can be ruined by altering or removing the original finish. This guideline applies to painted pieces of furniture as well. The wear on a painted piece of furniture may look shabby to some but on an antique piece of furniture it can add value by showing age and its original finish. Later finishes and paint can be removed by a trained restorer revealing the original finish. If you determine that the piece is a historically valuable antique, all restoration and cleaning should always be left to a professional.
An antique is defined as any object that is more than 100 years of age. An authentic piece of furniture in pristine, original condition with a patina developed from age retains the greatest value. However, not every antique is rare, valuable or historically significant. In this case restoring or refinishing the piece to make it usable or improve its appearance is an acceptable option. The degree of restoration can vary according to the condition of the piece and the preference of the owner. Options for restoration include:
1. Cleaning
In some cases a piece will have a build-up of dirt that will make it unattractive. A restorer can often remove this build-up without resorting to a more invasive refinishing. This maintains the existing finish and often the piece is finished with a protective wax.
2. Repair
Repairing a piece of furniture involves addressing damaged or worn areas. Sometimes where there are structural concerns, new parts must be added and/or damaged areas removed. The restorer will try to match the original wood where available.
3. Refinish
A restorer will evaluate the finish and determine its condition. The finish serves to protect the wood from moisture, dirt and scratches. If it can no longer do that in some cases the best solution is to replace the finish. Refinishing involves removing the old finish and applying where possible a historically appropriate new finish.
The degree of restoration and cleaning is ultimately up to the need and preference of the client. Eron Johnson Antiques advocates doing minimal restoration while preserving the original finish where possible. It is best for the owner to work with the restorer directly and determine the preferred end result.