| Project by Eric M. Saperstein | posted 57 days ago | 655 views | 0 times favorited | 12 comments |  |
 |
Article Reprint from Artisans Quarterly Review - Vol 1 Issue 2 - 2008 – View our newsletter for more information about Artisans of the Valley including artist profiles, restoration projects, custom furniture commissions, and our various adventures in life.
Finished Restoration Photos by Henry Schweber
Article:
======
Please, no matter how strong the urge, refrain from painting anything by Stickley pink. This action is not only in bad taste, it certainly reduces the value of such a highly respected and collectible piece of furniture to almost nothing. Besides it’s just plain wrong!
That said, if someone else has already committed a furniture atrocity and left you to handle the unspeakable results … don’t loose any sleep; we can help. First we will take the piece out of your hands and immediately quarantine it until the pink can be safely removed. We’ll then focus on the structure and veneer repairs, and finally apply a proper finish.
The finish is a hand rubbed garnet shellac which creates a proper warm rich deep finish. Shellac is great for filling the open pours of oak to help level out the overall surface. The finish can be completed entirely in shellac, but most client’s today prefer to utilize tung oil varnish for the final coats.
Tung oil varnish creates a layer that is resistant to water, alcohol, and other general household use. A finish completed in pure shellac is susceptible to the dreaded “white ring” created when someone unknowingly places a glass on your furniture without a coaster.
We handle dozens of Golden Oak, Stickley, Mission, and Arts & Crafts pieces each year. Every one of these type of pieces has turned out with a great result. Age and wear and tear on oak generally serves only to improve the patina and character of the piece.
Furniture built in Quarter Sawn oak is the most highly prized of the oak furniture lines. Stickley took pride in using quarter sawn white oak almost exclusively. Be sure to check the inside of drawers, underside of the piece, and the back panels for labels to help identify the manufacturer.
We are happy to assist our clients in identifying their furniture, determining age, condition, and manufacturer. From these factors, we can provide an estimated value before and after restoration, as well as provide an estimate to bring your piece back to life.
-- Eric M. Saperstein, Master Craftsman www.artisansofthevalley.com
12 comments so far
Julian
home | projects | blog
695 posts in 424 days
posted 56 days ago
Now that’s a beautiful restoration. Well done!
-- Julian, Park Forest, IL
Woodwrecker
home | projects | blog
497 posts in 474 days
posted 56 days ago
It’s almost hard to believe that it’s the same piece in the before and after shots.
Excellent refurbishment Eric.
Whatever that job cost, it was worth it.
-- Eric
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
17138 posts in 476 days
posted 56 days ago
interesting
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com
littlecope
home | projects | blog
604 posts in 401 days
posted 56 days ago
Man, that is painful to see- what people do to fine furniture… :(
Excellent job Eric, giving it back its dignity.
-- Mike in Manchester, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.
RexMcKinnon
home | projects | blog
722 posts in 94 days
posted 56 days ago
nice save
-- If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!
jim1953
home | projects | blog
1614 posts in 741 days
posted 56 days ago
Great Lookin Job
-- Jim, Kentucky
reggiek
home | projects | blog
716 posts in 169 days
posted 56 days ago
What a sacrilege. Thankfully you were around to save the day….great job…it looks like new…and is now able to be called stickly….
-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!
huff
home | projects | blog
1630 posts in 184 days
posted 55 days ago
Another great restoration!
-- John @ Myrtle Beach
ToddE
home | projects | blog
126 posts in 834 days
posted 55 days ago
Good save, man, what a beautiful peice of work that was probably destined for the dump!
-- Do we do this for purpose or passion?
mtkate
home | projects | blog
664 posts in 224 days
posted 55 days ago
Eric – lol – the title of this post has you now dated and stamped!
I would say “hear hear” and urge that NO furniture EVER be painted pink. Egad….
Abe Low
home | projects | blog
67 posts in 745 days
posted 54 days ago
I am retired but do some restoration work for ONE person in my town. I am constantly amazed at the shoddy repair work done on these pieces. The only rationale I can think of for such poor repairs done on these 150+ year old pieces is that during the course of their existence they were considered to be old junk, not worthy of anything but being nailed together with junk wood backing / reinforcing to make them functional for use in the barn. Now, after proper repair, they are considered to be quality antiques.
-- Abe Low, Fine furniture, Sacramento, CA
Eric M. Saperstein
home | projects | blog
175 posts in 147 days
posted 53 days ago
Oh it’s amazing what happens to furniture. We have pulled POUNDS of finishing nails out of every angle of the piece. Weirdly placed screws, sealers and filler that is literally bondo. Weird as materials spliced in.
Not sure why it is so hard to just take the piece apart, clean out the old glue, and reglue it. Once we’re done if we do a FULL restoration we break the pieces down completely and rebuild them. Yes things crack and break in the process but better to find the weakness now than in 6 months when the customer complains.
We’ve had a lot of barn salvages / basement / garage that were used as a workbenches that we turned back into furniture.
It never ends new strange things that people do to furniture show up all the time!
-- Eric M. Saperstein, Master Craftsman www.artisansofthevalley.com