FRENCH WALNUT COUNTY BUFFET

Our client’s French Walnut Country Buffet was created in the mid to late 17th century.
The finish, likely original, has not been tampered with any modern finish materials…
It has a lovely patina that we will preserve and enhance.

FIRST IN-STUDIO ASSESSMENT

An in-studio assessment begins as we are readying for the excavation.
Every side is photographed; everything we notice is detailed.
Many overall images are taken so that if we open up the buffet and find something unnoticed we can see it in an image from before we disassembled the buffet.

Our “before” images are our reference documents!

Split and escutcheon to be reattached.

Split and escutcheon to be reattached.

Broken detail is not in the original estimate.

L-facing external panel has moved.

L-facing external panel has moved.

Rear R-facing leg is split.

Rear R-facing leg is split.

Table R-facing top is splitting from edge…

Table R-facing top is splitting into the central third of the buffet…

… where it terminates.

Some of the obvious items we assessed in their home.
Everything might not be repaired, and everything is discussed prior to reparation.

We have a relationship with our client
to inform and come to agreement about protocol.

Inside Center door

Door latch for the center door

Inside the R-facing interior…

Inside the R-facing interior… Shelving is loose.

Inside R-facing door

Inside R-facing door possible hinge issues

Inside R-facing door possible hinge issues

Inside R-facing door frame split

Inside R-facing door frame split

Showing the outside R-facing door frame split

The buffet is built with two interior shelving areas.

Above, the largest, uses the center door and the right-facing door;
the interior has shelving and support issues.
The center door hings will be thoroughly checked once they are off the carcass
for possible compromised areas… this “tune up” is a wise thing to do when a piece
is in the studio because it is better to repair issues when everything is apart.
The right-facing door has compromised hinges, and a split in the frame.
We have the missing escutcheon, thankfully.

R-facing drawer

R-facing drawer left corner

R-facing drawer right corner

R-facing drawer rear right corner

Detail metal screw

R-facing drawer rear left corner

Center drawer

Center drawer L-facing corner

Center drawer split floor

Center drawer split floor

Center drawer R-facing corner

Center drawer

Center drawer L-facing corner

Center drawer split floor

Center drawer split floor

Center drawer split floor

Center drawer rear R-facing corner

Center drawer rear L-facing corner

The drawers are a great example of damages that may not be repaired at this time, however, during excavation we are certain we will find compromised drawer skids!

L-facing door

L-facing door hinges will be examined for stability

L-facing door hinges will be examined for stability

L-facing inside cabinet

L-facing inside cabinet panel slide to the rear…

L-facing inside cabinet panel slide to the rear… corresponds to the outside image.

The left-facing interior shelving area is the one which has the large opening where the outside panel has slide backwards leaving a huge crack.  We will repair this and examine the hinges for stability when the door is removed.

At some time the interior shelf was removed and a plywood shelf was inserted;
the stanchions were compromised.  This will be repaired.

As stated above, the drawers are a great example of damages
that may not be repaired at this time.

To show all the repairs in this buffet would be monumental;
we will offer a sampling of the many preservation/conservation repairs performed.

Next post, we excavate (disassemble) the carcass.
Sign up for notifications to follow!

Written by Kate Powell, ©MPF Conservation.
May be printed for your own use ONLY, not for use on blogs without permission.