This beautiful little Cherry Hutch appears to have been part of a school or other institutional-type collection. It's been a family member for at least the past two generations. So, right now it belongs to a Denver area musician and music teacher. It sets proudly in her studio, a fine piece probably manufactured as part of a set in the early 1900's. Any other pieces to the set are gone, so it stands alone "taking notes" (i.e., keeping track of sheet music) in her studio.
Ugh. At some point along its life path it held a potted plant on its top. As often happens this was something of a convenient place for a plant, but it was a threatening destination for the occasional over- watering events that predictably occur to impact the top. Consequently, it had become badly water stained and the wood was split and crazed.
So with a piece like this the challenge becomes that of retaining the integrity of as much of the original finish as possible. In general, its surfaces, throughout, remain amazingly clear, clean, and un-crazed. The lacquer is old and it appears more "tired (dead)" in some areas (e.g., the top) than in others (e.g., the inside of the door). But overall, once we address issues in the top, we'll work to support the original finish. So, we'll not disturb it's look and feel any more than we need to revitalize it around the sides (but not inside).
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