Here's a real sweet surprise. My customer showed me a sad little chest that she wanted me to refinish. It was in bad shape. It had been repeatedly painted, it's top was badly split, it had rot and insect holes, and it was badly stained. She told me its story including the fact it had been sitting on her back porch for the past several years. Why? Because she didn't know what she wanted to do with it.
So, this picture represents a lot of work! It was pink when I brought it into the shop and began the refinishing process (top, right). As that effort soon discovered, it had been painted six times over many years, pink, turquoise, green, yellow, and white. The original finish was an old varnish.
Of course you see here what I began to see as the layers of paint and years were stripped away (bottom, right). Obviously, too, the piece is a genuine antique. I was increasingly excited through the refinishing process as I began to realize this was an 1870-1880 solid
walnut piece manufactured, probably in the United States, during the Victorian Era. It's grace and quality are unmistakable---when all the gunk is finally stripped away to rediscover its simple beauty and character. Fascinating!
What you see here (bottom, right) is a picture taken right after the second sanding seal coat was applied. I'll update you on the finished product, too.
Dick
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