Restoring Antique Furniture

Many of the projects that pass through my workshop involve the restoration of tables, chairs, chests, cupboards and other everyday furniture. Private clients usually request that their antiques be made to look better and function well in their homes. A door must open and close properly, a chair must be stable to sit on, and a drawer must easily slide in and out of its housing.

I try to balance the client’s wishes with the requirement for functionality and beauty while observing stringent professional restoration guidelines. I always attempt to restore an antique made of wood in a way that is not disrespectful of the craftsman who created the piece. I do this by trying to use the same restoration techniques and materials that were originally used for constructing and finishing the furniture being restored. A dovetailed drawer with its internal parts broken should be fixed with a new dovetail joint. An antique oak chair which has a missing leg requires a new leg made out of antique oak wood attached with a mortise and tenon joint. The conservator’s choice for such repairs is hide glue because of its reversible properties.

A chest of drawers French polished by hand should be polished by the same method employed by restorers throughout the life of the chest. Modern agents such as lacquers should not be applied to such a piece. I advise clients not only about how to restore and beautify antique furniture or to improve an item's functionality, but also about the optimal intervention methods that will prolong the life of the piece and maintain its historical and actual value.