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Before and After Photographs





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.





This German oak cased clock dates from around 1900. Standing 14" high with an 8 day striking and chiming movement.
Chiming on the quarters and chiming and striking on the hour.

It had lost most of it's original finish along with two of the hands on the advance and retard dial, also the chime and silent dial.

The cased was re-polished, the movement cleaned and serviced. The dial was re-silvered to bring it back to it's original state.


Victorian-Chair






19thc SPOON BACK CHAIR





19thc Ormolu Clock (Before and after Cleaning)

Ormolu Before         Ormolu After


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.





This set of four Walnut Hoop back chairs dating around 1860required the rather awful white plastic seat covers to be removed along with the equally unattractive brass studded nails.

After that, the frames were repaired where the backs had been broken but fortunately still had the pieces in place enabling them to to be glued back and any small chips left were carefully replaced with a matching coloured wax. The walnut frame was then cleaned and waxed polished.

The stuffing was repacked and some added to bulk up then finally recovered.


Antique Chair Restoration Photo Project 1 - Before        Antique Chair Restoration Photo Project 1 - After



Georgian and Regency Mahogany side chairs


These two chairs were bought at auction recently for £10 plus commision. Bargain. The one with a square back and under stretcher is George 111. The chair with sabre shaped legs with a cartouche shaped back rail is regency.

Both of the chairs needed some of the stuffing replaced and then recovered. Any joints that were loose were re-glued. The wood was then cleaned with Colron wax remover and then repolished.

Two very nice chairs for the minimum expense and effort.

Georgian and Regency mahogany chairs        Georgian and Regency mahogany chairs





Nest of Tables


Reproduction nest of tables 1        Reproduction nest of tables


The customers requirements were for the dark varnish to be removed from the three tables and re-stained to match the existing teak furniture..

To do this I removed all of the dark varnish using a strong paint and varnish remover, like nitromoors or equivalent. Painting it on in small areas, one leg at a time and leaving for ten minutes or so until it started to bubble. Removing the disolving varnish carefully with medium steel wool, working in the direction of the grain, being careful not to scratch the wood. This was done several times until only bear wood remained.

I used a teak coloured wood stain on a clean cloth and wiped over the wood matching it to a piece of existing teak furniture.

NOTE Always use protective gloves, goggles etc. when using these chemicals.

It was left for a day or two until the wood was completely dry between each of these two processes.
Finishing off I applied a thin coat of LIBERON Finishing oil with a clean cloth made into a small pad. Leaving a day between each coat or until completely dry. After 3 coats I buffed the finish with a duster. This left a satin finish which was heat and wet resistant.

Customer Testimonial
My tables, although practical did not match the colour of newer furniture. Years of use had also affected the surface finish. AW Antiques have acurately matched the colour of the other furniture so the tables now blend perfectly with the rest of the room.






Victorian Mahogany Side Table


Victorian Side table Image 1        Victorian Side Table Image 2





Wooden Prayer Box

Wooden Prayer Box 1        Wooden Prayer Box 2


I imagine, this Intricately carved wooden box originated from the middle east and could have been some sort of prayer box. It is banded with camel bone and has a silver handle on the drawer. It has little value but was a good exercise in patience and gluing techniques. I finally finished by treating the wood with a made up mixture of equal parts of vinegar, meths and linseed oil, which brought back the lustre of the wood.


American Drop Dial Wall Clock


American Wall Clock Image 1        American Wall Clock Image 2


This oak cased drop dial wall clock dates from around 1880 and was made by the New Haven Clock Company. It has an eight day movement and strikes on the hour and half.

The original finish was a dark vanish which I removed using Nitromoors varnish remover, gave it a light oak stain and waxed polished it.

The original face was badly damaged and was a printed on paper copy, so it was replaced with another printed copy. These can be purchased through clock spares suppliers.





Victorian Walnut Figured Loo Table Top


Loo Table Image 1        Loo Table Image 2


This Loo table top needed to be re-polished as it had some water damage and scratching. The old surface was removed then rubbed down using a ball of very fine steel wool 0000 grade, then french polished using a clear or golden polish to retain the lovely colour of the burr walnut veneer.

The lighter areas on the finished top is merely the reflection of light on the highly polished surface.


The term Loo is short for Lanterloo, which under various spellings comes from the French word Lenturlu, a meaningless saying used in lullabies, equivalent to 'lullay, lulloo'.

Having said that, Loo was a card game brought over from France in the 1600's. Two forms were played, one using 3 cards another 5 and involved gambling as well as being a domestic card game as mentioned in Jane Austin novels.

The 'Loo table' was made by the Victorians for the purpose of playing this popular domestic card game of the time. The table tops come in various shapes and usually are held on an ornate centre column which enables the top to tilt up to the vertical, to push against a wall when not in use.


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