| MOVING SALE 20% OFF EVERY ITEM |
Repairs
Our workshop disposes of way over a hundred ancient tools, most of them hand planes of every uses.
Only necessary repairs are done. Old ones, if pleasing, are preserved. All wood and nails chosen are of an appropriate period; thus small repairs ("rossignols") blend in while major interventions can be accomplished without harm to the piece as a whole.
Modern glues such as epoxies are never used so that any repair may be reversed if necessary.
Paint removal
Every piece of furniture being singular the right procedure almost has to come of its own accord. Stripping of recent coats of paint is a touchy job which can only be done with patience.
Well controlled blade-scraping, dissolvers or lye, and sometimes heat-blowers or irons, can all be used depending on the nature of the paints dealt with. One same piece of furniture may even require some combination of these techniques before it is properly restored.
Original Colours
Ancient colours, in any subsisting state, should be preserved whenever possible. They recall history as well as workmanship. Frequently their deterioration over time leads to unique effects like spotted or speckled pigmentation or ambiguous alterations caused by over-painting, etc.
The use of fixative (sizing) and/or application of primer was of the utmost importance for their actual conservation.
Not all furniture was painted though: some pieces were varnished or shellacked while others, especially crude or "primitive" ones, were simply left in a natural unfinished state.
Our expertise enables us to revive original colours, sometimes enhancing or even reproducing them on major repairs.
Finishing
Within about ten days or so, after thorough cleaning, all furniture is treated inside and outside with boiled raw linseed oil and turpentine, either bare wood as ancient paint. Then up to three coats of fresh shellac are put on, dulling between each operation with fine steel wool. Finally, one, two or three fine layers of bees wax are applied and buffed with proper brushes and cotton pads. Table tops, rather than waxed, are carefully varnished to ease their daily maintenance.
