| You are here: AW Antiques & Collectibles Before and After Photographs |
AW Antiques & Collectibles |
     
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VICTORIAN OAK HALL CHAIR
This late 1800s Oak hall chair, with caned back and seat needed some attention as a couple of spindle joints were loose so were re-glued.
Finally, a thorough wax polish brought it back to a good finish showing the turned legs and carving to it's best advantage. This chair demonstrates the skills of the maker in wood turning by producing different shapes on the legs and again in the fine finials on the back etc. also the carving of the lions head terminals on the top of the chair. A very pretty example in the use of earlier period shapes of furniture design. 
ANTIQUE WINDSOR CHAIR
The Windsor chair below dates from around the late 1800s to early 1900 and is constructed of Elm, Ash and Beech. More expensive ones would have been made using Yew Wood especially on the arms. The name Windsor chairs came about in the Seventeenth Century when locally made chairs were shipped from Windsor downstream to London for sale in the markets there. The Windsor chair also proved popular as a design in North America from early times. Windsor chairs have been made in many forms but the style we know today (the Stickback Double Bow) is acknowledged as the true classic Windsor Chair and is much sought after for its comfort, style and above all durability. The chair shown, in the before and after photos came to me in pieces, due to the glue having dried out and therefore needed to be reconstructed with new glued joints and then a wax polish, which has made it good for another 100 years. 
Early 1900s COMPENDIUM CLOCK.
This very nice timepiece gives the appearance of a miniature long case clock, standing 20" high and 5" wide. The case is veneered in rosewood and has ornate inlay of various woods. 
It required extensive restoration to the clock movement along with the barometer, which like the clock, needed new glass fitted and parts cleaned, to bring back to working order. The rolling calendar needed repairing as parts had come adrift inside. New wooden winders were made to replace the ones missing. The case was repaired and some parts re-glued. Finally the bezels were polished together with the casing, producing a very collectable clock, now in complete working order.
VICTORIAN BALLOON BACK CHAIRS WITH CABRIOLE LEGS
With their shaped Cabriole legs and intricate carved backs these chairs needed cleaning and again re-polishing. The old upholstery was removed, any loose joints were glued and new webbing, stuffing etc. was replaced.
They date from around 1840-1850 and are a very attractive set of four. 
VICTORIAN BALLOON BACK CHAIRS WITH DROP-IN SEATS These very solidly made Mahogany chairs date from around 1880-1890s. The joints were tightened up and the wood was cleaned and re-polished. The seats were completely re-upholstered in the traditional way using natural fibres and materials where possible. They were finally covered in a cream damask fabric which set off the rich warm colours of the wood. 
VICTORIAN MAHOGANY DINING TABLE The table needed to be cleaned and restored to be used again as a family piece. The top had split apart where it had been originally joined so needed to be re-glued and clamped back into place. It was then cleaned and re-polished along with the reeded legs to make it a very useful and attractive table. 
1930s OAK GATE LEG TABLE
This gate leg table with Oak top and Beech bobbin turned legs needed to be re-polished as the original stained varnish had become dull, scratchedl and was also water marked etc.. It is a very useful size for the modern home as when the flaps are folded down the actual size reduces to 12 inches wide by 24 inches long, so fits in any small space in the room. 
Removing all of the original varnish it was then rubbed smooth with fine steel wool, then stained to match the base.
Finally given several coats of Finishing Oil which enhanced the warm colours of the wood which had been concealed by the old varnish. 
This 1930s solid oak extending dining table required the surface finish to be completely stripped off by hand, as the owners request was to lighten the whole appearance. This was done by using a strong varnish remover and lifting off with steel wool when softened. The effect off using the steel wool not only removes all the old varnish but also leaves the wood very smooth for final polishing. This process does not in anyway spoil the natural wood colour underneath. The table top because it had suffered water damage and had become stained was sanded to remove it, then polished to a smooth finish with fine sandpaper. Finally it was given a coat or two of finishing oil to leave a natural mellow colour. 
19thc Ormolu Clock (Before and after Cleaning)
CLEANING ORMOLU CLOCKS Military Chest
This late 19th Century chest holds an interesting story about a man whose military life started in 1891 as a private in the Middlesex Regiment and who worked his way through the ranks, until he became a Major in the Bedfordshire Regiment, in 1915.
In 1917 he left for Gibraltar but was invalided home in 1920, finally retiring to Surrey and later to the Isle of Wight. During this period the chest travelled with him to many places including Aden, Bombay, South Africa and Bermuda. These facts are recorded on the labels printed on the chest, along with the different ranks that he went through. This pine chest has remained within in the same family until the present day, when I was asked if I could restore it but still retain all of the information recorded on it. After cleaning off as much of the discolouration that had built up over a hundred years or so it was waxed polished. The only items replaced were the brass handle and stretchers underneath that had rotted or were damaged. 
Inlaid Table
This rather nice inlaid Marquetry oval occasional table is what is termed a "marriage" meaning that the top and support were not made to match but were taken from two different pieces of furniture and made up. The top is walnut veneered and the base although covered in a dark varnish, showed when removed that is was solid oak.
The original finish on the table top was removed along with the water stain and re-polished. Once the dark varnish was removed from the base stand is was lightly stained to match the colour of the top. 
Chest on Chest Restoration
What can be done by removing the old dark varnish and replacing missing veneer and then repolishing. 
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