Category Archives: shellac

Fu Dogs Treatment

Posted on August 13, 2018 by dkatiepowellart

Our client brought his small carved wooden guardian dogs to us for treatment. Pairs of Chinese guardian lion statues are decorative, symbolic elements at the entrances to structures in many Asian countries. Each is different, and should come in. pairs, … Continue reading →

Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, shellac, traditional varnishes, waxes, wooden objects | Tagged #artconservation, #chineselionstatues, #chinesestatues, #foodogs, #fudogs, #paintconservation, #statuerepair, carved, Chinese Lion Statues, Chinese statues, conservation, Fo Dogs, Foo Dogs, Fu dogs, Gamblin, gilded objects, painted finishes, painted objects, preservation, statue conservation, statue repair | 3 Comments

Repairing Veneer on a Bombe in the Style of Louis XV

Posted on June 1, 2014 by dkatiepowellart

Before Repair, Above, and After, Below. This is a lovely bombe which had cracked veneer across the curved door faces. Someone had previously repaired it long before our current owners took possession. MPFC treated several areas, but I am posting … Continue reading →

Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, Interim Report, pigments, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, shellac, wooden objects | Tagged Bombe, damaged veneer, finish, Louis XV, restoration, shellac | 2 Comments

W is for Windsor: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 26, 2014 by dkatiepowellart

One of my favorite chairs, this often overlooked Windsors may have originated in Wales, Ireland and England, where wheelwrights creating chairs as they made wheel spokes, which were chairs using compression tension joints, with no hide glue holding the spokes … Continue reading →

Posted in antiques, chair, decorative motifs, history, painted furniture, shellac, wooden objects | Tagged 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, Mid-Century Modern, modern, windsor chair | 4 Comments

S is for Shellac Varnish Damage: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 22, 2014 by MPFConservation

Damage to traditional shellac varnishes — original varnishes made from shellac, and possibly with additional resins such as dammar, etc. — is often preventable. We see several common and preventable mistakes owners make over and over again. Before stripping, call … Continue reading →

Posted in antiques, CAUTIONS, conservation techniques, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, shellac, traditional varnishes, waxes, wooden objects | Tagged antique care, antique shellac varnish, caring for your treasure, damage | 2 Comments

M is for McLoughlin’s Melodeon: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 15, 2014 by dkatiepowellart

John McLoughlin was the Father of Oregon, and his history is celebrated at the McLoughlin House in Oregon City. We conserved the Prince & Co. Melodeon he gave to his granddaughter, part of a larger collection housed at his home, … Continue reading →

Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, house museums, preservation, restoration techniques, shellac, traditional varnishes, wooden objects | Tagged Father of Oregon, John McLoughlin, McLoughlin House, musical instruments, piano, Prince & Co. melodeon | Leave a comment

D is for Dragon’s Blood: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 4, 2014 by dkatiepowellart

Dragon’s Blood is a pigment that was widely used in furniture finishes before and in the early 19th century. Synthetic dyes and a shift to different preferences in wood species moved makers away from this very popular finish, and of … Continue reading →

Posted in antiques, pigments, restoration techniques, shellac, traditional varnishes | Tagged blood, dragon, dragonsblood, John McLoughlin, pigment, pigmentation, red, shellac, varnish | Leave a comment

East Lake Sofa-Bed Upholstery #3: Finish Reparation

Posted on May 19, 2013 by dkatiepowellart

by DKP This is the fourth post in a series on this project. This post continues from the previous post: East Lake Sofa-Bed Upholstery #2B: Repair. To begin at the beginning go to Eastlake Sofa-Bed Upholstery Conservation #1: Excavation. We made … Continue reading →

Posted in conservation techniques, Interim Report, restoration techniques, shellac, traditional varnishes, upholstery | Tagged A. Hansen 1878 Chicago, arts and craft, East Lake, Eastlake, Upholstery Portland Oregon, Victorian furniture | 2 Comments

Traditional Shellac Varnish: Mixing and Tips For the Best Coat

Posted on January 13, 2013 by dkatiepowellart

We make our own shellac, using traditional recipes. We use only the freshest shellac flakes, and use lab grade isopropyl alcohol as the carrier to support our interest in having a green studio. Continue reading →

Posted in conservation techniques, restoration techniques, shellac, traditional varnishes | Tagged antique shellac varnish, brew shellac, brush shellac, recipe, traditional shellac | Leave a comment

Tabletop Restoration: Impurities in Shellac and other Woes

Posted on January 11, 2013 by dkatiepowellart

There really is a Shellac God. He is a fickle god, a prankster, and loves to keep conservators up at night biting their nails. Sometimes the impurities buried deep in historic layers of shellac varnishes are like pranksters. You think you have them under control then they raise up and cause you all kinds of problems. Here is my story, one conservator against 200 years of impurities. Continue reading →