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Caring for Fine Furniture
Furniture can be a product of artistic design and is considered a form of
decorative art. In addition to furniture's functional role, it can serve a
symbolic or religious purpose. Domestic furniture works, in conjunction with
furnishings such as clocks and lighting, to create comfortable and convenient
interior spaces.
Minor Furniture Repair
How can I repair a split drop finial and chipped molding from a Victorian
parlor table?
If you have the missing pieces, use hide glue to put them back in place.
Furniture makers traditionally used this type of glue. It is strong, cleans up
with water, and allows plenty of time to set and adjust your clamps. Furniture
conservators like hide glue because it makes taking apart old joints and
misaligned repairs relatively easy.
Before you re-adhere the finial or molding make sure you remove any old glue so
that you get a strong bond. Hide glue will come off with water. Modern synthetic
adhesive will require scraping or use of harsh solvents to soften it. When you
glue pieces, make sure your clamps are padded to avoid marring the surface. Any
“squeeze out” can be wiped off with a damp rag. After the glue sets, completely
remove residue along the glue line by dissolving it in water.
Flake hide glue, which is generally preferred by conservators, is heated to get
it into a liquid state. However, to simplify the process you may purchase liquid
hide glue that does not require heating.
If you have any doubts about your ability to repair the break yourself without
doing further damage to your prized antique, take it to a furniture conservator.
Caring for Silver - How can I care for silver without damaging it?
Objects made of silver or silver plate tarnish when silver metal reacts
chemically with sulfur compounds in the air. Dirty and lightly tarnished silver
can be wiped with a silver cleaning cloth available from supermarkets or
hardware stores. Heavily tarnished objects, with intricate decoration, should be
cleaned using a thin paste of precipitated calcium carbonate and alcohol, which
you can make at home. Use only a small amount of precipitated calcium carbonate;
do not use chalk or whiting, which are abrasive. Once cleaned, objects should be
wrapped in neutral pH tissue paper and stored in a sealed plastic freezer bag or
a silver cloth bag available from a jewelry store. Click on "Even More Info" for
supply sources.
Polishing Antique Furniture
Should I clean and polish a Federal-style walnut sideboard that has been in
the family for generations and looks dusty and drab?
Many antique furniture pieces, particularly sophisticated ones like your Federal
sideboard, had highly polished finishes. As you can imagine, in the period
before electric lighting and manufactured plastic laminate, glossy surfaces that
reflected and amplified light were highly prized. By cleaning and polishing your
sideboard, you are restoring the early appearance and approximating the maker's
intent.
In addition to being unsightly, dust can abrade the finish. It can also create a
microclimate of higher relative humidity that encourages mold growth and
provides a food source for the mold. Dust should be removed on a regular basis.
The best way to remove dust is with a HEPA vacuum and a magnetic dust cloth.
Aerosol and liquid polishes should not be used on antique furniture. These
polishes often contain silicones, which can harm the underlying finish, as well
as other ingredients that can build up and obscure the finish. After the dust is
removed and the piece cleaned, paste wax should be applied to the finished
surfaces. A little paste wax goes a long way. On a sound finish, a glossy,
reflective surface can usually be achieved with one or two applications and
considerable elbow grease and should last several years.
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