A Honey of a Hutch

Actually it's probably a commode...at least that's what my customer is telling me. She says her mom bought it second hand, but never used it as a commode. However, the shelf inside this little hutch (you can't see it in this shot, but you can see it in the previous blog picture since it) seems to prohibit the use of a tall pitcher and it's companion two-gallon lidded crock. Both of these items would be too tall for the self inside the cabinet.

Nevertheless, this little jewel is amazingly attractive. It was a really fun piece to have around--a real adventure to rescue and lovingly refinish--and something of a rare find. Knowing it sat on a back porch for several years covered with six layers of paint and varnish, suggests to me that those layers of variously colored (lead based) paint probably proved to protect this little gem from the seasonal temperature fluctuation, the snow, and the rain.

So, it's gone home. Boy was it excited! I was happy to see it go and my customer...well, she's now trying to find the perfect place to put it INSIDE HER HOUSE. Ha

That's Wood Talkin for today.

Honey In a Pie Safe

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