DORKING FURNITURE REPAIR AND RESTORATION OF ANTIQUES – A STEAMER CHAIR (VERY UNUSUAL AND RATHER WONDERFUL!)
Recently at our workshop in Shere we have had the pleasure of restoring some very attractive and unusual items. This is always a pleasure, as tackling the restoration of objets d’art and select items can be both fun and challenging. Different technical problems can arise and it is great to have to think our way round how best to resolve items that have very particular finishes or construction.
The warming pan shown here was brought to us with a broken handle, a not uncommon problem. The handles are long and heavy use over many years often causes them to break. This is a shame as these items are naturally attractive – and remind us all of a time when central heating and electric blankets did not exist. Indeed, during the winter these warming pans must have been extremely welcome – although I often wonder how many fires they caused!
WARMING PAN – LOOKING AS GOOD AS THE DAY IT WAS MADE
Regarding our recent restoration of furniture, we have just finished a beautiful marquetry table, which came to us in a severely damaged condition. This meant that we had to remove some of the veneers altogether and then find new veneers to match that existing. After laying these we had to colour and French polish all the surfaces, so that everything looked exactly the same. This was not easy work but the finished result (I believe) more than justifies the faith in us that our client had.
GORGEOUS MARQUETRY TABLE – NOW FULLY RESTORED
Meanwhile, the Steamer chair was a joy. It is American, beechwood and cane, manufactured by Gebruder Thonet and Circa 1860. It has handles on it and was made in such a way that it could be folded and then hung up. It was probably taken on sea voyages and is actually rather comfortable!
Peter Snelling