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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