Tag Archives: #woodenobjectconservation

MCM Wormley Circular Desk circa 1950

Dunbar created the Circular Desk, shown above, before treatment.  It was designed in the fifties by Edward Wormley, AIA, 1907-1995.  The teak desk had its original leather intact, a real find!  The desk is teak wood with built-in bookshelves, and … Continue reading

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Stickley Chairs

Above and right, the chairs before treatment. Our client had six original Stickley chairs, some of which had their original upholstery.  They have been in her family for 6 generations, bought in Chicago in 1907. We will offer thorough documentation … Continue reading

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Depression Era Bedside Table

This is a short story about how a little TLC can bring a family piece back to life. Our client’s depression era nightstand went though a water event. While they were away, their ceiling leaked, which damaged the finish, detail … Continue reading

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American Piecrust Candle Table ca 1750

Our client inherited many family pieces, and the American Piecrust Mahogany & Elm Candle Table circa 1750 is a sweet and unusual piece.  The front side of the table contains a flat, leather clad pull-out tray (shown above right pulled … Continue reading

Posted in American Furniture, antiques, conservation techniques, encaustic wax, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, shellac, traditional varnishes, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

American White Oak Seventeenth Century Dowry Chest

Above, the American Dowry Chest before treatment, Image #1, and after, Images #2-3. Below left, the interior with the dowry chest guardian inside. HISTORY We begin this post with Mitchell’s historical musings. “Our client’s American white oak dowry chest is … Continue reading

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Two Third Republic / Louis XVI Bergères ca 1900

Two hand carved, French walnut, French or Belgian Third Republic/Louis XVI Bergères are our topic for this blog.  Our client contacted us about the bottom literally dropping out of their two bergères, shown above, Bergère #1, left, and Bergère #2, … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, French Furniture, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Louis XV Polychrome Commode Ca. 1730

Above, the commode before treatment; note the faux “drawers” on the front which are really hiding the door. Below, the underside of the commode. This well loved Venetian poly-chrome commode was created in the classical Louis XV Style.  It has … Continue reading

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Embellished Pillows

Several pillows were made to accompany our client’s family furniture after the design presentation:  below, images from the production process.  Pillows can make the look!   These pillows and bolsters are all hand-stitched other than the basic forms. CYLINDER BOLSTER The … Continue reading

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CW Parker Carousel, Chariot Benches

(Swipe to see the cats discovering the pony!) “Whoa… who put this here?” Savitri. “Hey, there’s a critter in the studio!”  Gibbs… “He’s not a cat….But he’s a cheery fella!  Just my size!” It is a shame the C.W.Parker Carousel … Continue reading

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“Jerry Lamb” Wingback Ca. 2010

Our client purchased the wingback chair designed by Jerry Lamb, a Portland Oregon antique dealer and interior designer. We were to do a full restoration, down to the frame, with a goal of improving upon its comfort level.  We also … Continue reading

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Hunzinger “Lollipop” Chair, 2 Frame Reparation

  Our armchair, affectionately known as the “lollipop” chair, was made circa 1880.  George Jakob Hunzinger (born 1835 in Tuttingen, Germany), was a progressive designer out of New York who was often influenced in his designs by machinery; their geometry … Continue reading

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Biltmore Bellows

Our client purchased one of the bellows from the Biltmore historic collection.  While in good condition, it had issues which he wanted repaired.  The bellows was not to be used everyday, but he did want it to be usable. In … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Design Presentations

We don’t discuss design presentations often but they are a normal part of our business.  With every project we present options to our client.  They range from simple presentations of fabric and trims placed over the object to be conserved, … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, French Furniture, Interim Report, painted furniture, painted objects, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mognat of Paris Steamer Trunk, 4, Completion

This Mognat of Paris family steamer trunk ca 1900, has been round the world many times.  The heirs brought it to us to clean, stabilize the inner lining, create new handles, and to preserve the character of the outer trunk … Continue reading

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Mognat of Paris Steamer Trunk, 3, Inside and Outside

This Mognat of Paris family steamer trunk ca 1900, has been round the world many times.  The heirs brought it to us to clean, stabilize the inner lining, create new handles, and to preserve the character of the outer trunk … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Final Details

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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End of the 2021 + Holidays

We are happy to see the back of 2021 in so many ways! It’s been a tough couple of years, trying to do business during Covid, with shortages in staffing and materials in many vendor businesses, and also, some people … Continue reading

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Looking Back at 2020 and Covid Delays

In hindsight, what we did to cope during the early days of Covid. We had to think of ways to reuse items that should be disposable…  It was impossible, for instance, to get gloves.  Most places made you register as … Continue reading

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French Walnut Country Buffet, 2, Excavation

FRENCH WALNUT COUNTY BUFFET Follow along with our interim report for our client’s French Walnut Country Buffet: Previously, we began with Assessment… Our “before” images are our reference documents! EXCAVATION We removed the doors, and then the top of the … Continue reading

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French Walnut Country Buffet, 1, Assessment

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 … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Upholstery Buildup, Back and Arms

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The textile was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Upholstery Buildup, Seat

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, chair, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Frame Reparation

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, chair, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Cleaning Textiles

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. Be sure to run your cursor over images … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, chair, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Finish

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above.  We … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Excavation and Patterns

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above, though … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, chair, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles, upholstery, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mognat of Paris Steamer Trunk, 2, Prep Work

This Mognat of Paris family steamer trunk ca 1900, has been round the world many times.  The heirs brought it to us to clean, stabilize the inner lining, create new handles, and to preserve the character of the outer trunk … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles, upholstery, waxes, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mognat of Paris Steamer Trunk, 1, Assessment

This Mognat of Paris family steamer trunk ca 1900, has been round the world many times.  The heirs brought it to us to clean, stabilize the inner lining, create new handles, and to preserve the character of the outer trunk … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles, upholstery, waxes, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Chinese Diorama Table, 2

Continuing from the first post of our client’s Chinese carved diorama from the nineteenth century, we move now to the reparation of the figurines and decorative elements. Phase Three, Reparation We used two glues, hide (we use only Old Brown … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Chinese Diorama Table, 1

Our client’s Chinese carved diorama from the nineteenth century is one of the most delightful items I’ve had the pleasure to treat.  It is a pavilion over water, with big rocks with large trees of varying sorts along the base. … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Assessment

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above, though … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, chair, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Dutch Spindleback Ca 1600

Edit, update from Mitchell: “The chair featured in this article is very old. It was probably well into it’s use at the time Henry Hudson first made his way up the river which became his namesake.  It was originally a … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Chest, 3, Veneer and Finish

We move now to Veneers and Finish! Previous posts on the Louis XIV chest can be found: 1, Woodworking; and 2, Pest Infestations. Veneer for amendments was created by MPFC ahead of time for the project, as it was thicker … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Chest, 2, Pest Infestations

The chest of drawers is a seventeenth century French Louis XIV, shown above after treatment in its full glory. We continue from the previous post on the Louis XIV Chest, 1, Woodworking. This post covers samples of treatment for pest infestation. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Chest, 1, Woodworking

The chest of drawers is a seventeenth century French Louis XIV, shown above after treatment in its full glory. The drawers are wide and deep, and one can imagine a wealthy woman having a lovely chest to place long full … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Flax Wheel

This is a family heirloom, a spinning wheel made for spinning flax. Our client inherited the wheel and wanted the small piece broken repaired. It is unlikely that it will be used again, but it has to be strong enough … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted furniture, painted objects, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, traditional varnishes, waxes, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Mystery of the Metal Patches

We’ve inherited a box of old badly damaged pony legs with butted joinery which have been clad in copper and tin sheeting. The tacking lines along the leading edges of the butt joinery are so badly damaged by the tacking … Continue reading

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Jantzen Beach Carousel Moving Day!

Note: The images all have notations if you scroll through. “You want us to do whaaaat?” “Yes, that’s right, first, this mess has to be cleaned up!” We first arrived to assess the horses, because it starts with the horses, … Continue reading

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

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

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Marguerite McLoughlin’s Sewing Cabinet Speaks

Marguerite Wadin McKay McLoughlin was John McLoughlin’s second wife.  She was born in 1775 in St. Lawrence, Quebec, to Jean Etienne Wadin and Marie Deguire, a French-Indian mix. She was the widow of Alexander McKay, a member of the Astor party, who died in … Continue reading

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Beaver Washstand for the McLoughlin House

©MPF Conservation.  May be printed for your own use. May be reposted if our url+copyright is used as reference. MPFC recently completed treatment of a washstand for the Mcloughlin House in Oregon City which came from the first steamship to sail … Continue reading

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