ANTIQUE FURNITURE REPAIR, RESTORATION & CONSERVATION

Collage of wardrobes.

Antiquework Gallery

If you click on the link below, you can view a page giving a brief overview of my work on restoring an 18th century walnut chest on stand. The piece in question was featured in the millennium edition of the well known Miller's Antiques Guide, in the form of a "Miller's compares" feature.

Below are some digital images showing restoration processes to selected items of period furniture that we have recently worked on. To see each stage in more detail, click on any of the photographs to enlarge them in a new pop up window.

18th Century Oak Dresser

Victorian Mahogany Bowfront Chest of Drawers

Georgian Oak and Mahogany Chest of Drawers

Antique Oak Chest

Victorian Mahogany Chest of Drawers

Victorian mahogany longcase clock

This is the trunk of a Victorian mahogany longcase clock which was knocked over. The main door hinges broke away sections of the veneered timber surround as in this image.
The clock's hood smashed into numerous pieces as it hit the ground. Here, the components are laid out on the bench awaiting repair.
This is the hood undergoing final gluing up after numerous repairs were undertaken to the shattered timber components.
The is the completed clock case prior to final cleaning and waxing before redelivery to the client. The hood door glass was broken and was replaced with glass of the same period.

Victorian mahogany extending dining table

Victorian mahogany extending dining table with wind out mechanism as delivered to our workshop for restoration. This table has many major defects and requires complete and extensive restoration.
The table undergoing work in our workshop.
The finished result with all restoration work completed. The table is now in immaculate condition and ready for redelivery. This project has taken approximately 80 hours to complete.
Completed table in our workshop awaiting delivery to the client. Note - the white streaks are reflections in the highly polished finish!

Georgian mahogany chest of drawers

This Georgian mahogany chest of drawers has been badly reveneered. The veneer is coming away as a result of being too close to a heat source.
Here, all the damaged veneer has been removed using a heat gun.
The chest side has been reveneered with new mahogany veneer using traditional scotch glue.
The completed veneering work stained and refinished to match the original chest.

Edwardian mahogany pedestal desk

Edwardian mahogany pedestal desk awaiting a replacement leather lining. The original leather was beyond saving so was removed and the surface cleaned and made sound, ready for the new lining.
The replacement lining being pasted ready for laying on the desk top.
Cutting the new leather lining into the desk top using a sharp knife.
The new leather lining completed. Skivers are available from trade sources in a choice of colours and gold tooled designs. Also available are leather hides which enable large desks to be relined without a join in the leather.

Victorian mahogany extending D end dining table

Victorian Mahogany D end extending dining table. This table was missing two of its three centre leaves. Replacement leaves were constructed from period timber to match the existing original. The whole top has been stripped and sanded.
The table with the staining process completed and all ready for french polishing.
The table completely, colour matched, french polished and hand waxed awaiting delivery to the client.

Georgian mahogany dining chair

Georgian mahogany dining chair frame with broken leg joint.
The leg repaired with the side rail glued back in situ.

Victorian mahogany loo table top

This Victorian mahogany loo table top has split along the centre joint and needs taking apart and regluing. The finish is badly damaged and the top needs repolishing.
The underframe has been partly dismantled and the two halves of the top are now ready to be cleaned up and glued and cramped.
The finish on the top is being stripped in preparation for staining and repolishing.
The completed table with the top repaired, completely repolished and the base revived and waxed awaiting collection by the customer.

Georgian mahogany inlaid secretaire chest

This Georgian mahogany secretaire chest has suffered extensive damage to the two rear legs and the right leg is completely missing. There is significant veneer loss to the front of the drawer rails and other restoration work is needed to the boxwood inlay and drawer runners. The whole chest needs reviving and waxing.
Here, the right hand backleg of the chest has been completely rebuilt and this image shows a section of period veener that has been prepared for letting in and gluing to the damaged area. The veener shown has been retrieved from a damaged piece (purchased for spares) and has been chosen for its close match to the area on this chest requiring repair.
This image shows the completed repair to the right back hand leg of the secretaire chest. The old piece of veneer used for the repair has blended well with the surrounding area on the chest side resulting in an almost invisible repair.
This image shows the completed item. Having been revived and waxed to a deep shine, the chest is ready to be delivered to a private client.

1950s mahogany speaker box

This is a rare mahogany speaker box manufactured in Jamaica in the 1950s by a famous Reggae music pioneer.
The speaker box in our workshop having been sent all the way from Jamaica via the US.
The speaker box undergoing some of the repairs. This item is constructed from solid mahogany throughout and has been subjected to heavy wear. The lettering on the front is original.
This image shows the finished item. All loose joints have been repaired and the exterior finish has been carefully cleaned and lightly oiled. The lettering has had the bare minimum of attention, comprising of light cleaning and very light touching up of some of the missing text detail. The speaker plate is original and has just been cleaned. This speaker box will now be used for live gigs by the client!


Get in touch with your antique furniture restoration queries however small on
0117 214 0322 or 01454 228800 or email matthew@antiquework.co.uk for a quick response.