Antiques, antiques auctions, recent purchases and discussion

Medwed · Jul 29, 2013

Linseed oil soak to get depth , dry for a week or two and then semi-gloss lacquer etc. Shellac is not waterproof and not very practical for tables.

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Electrified Kerosine chandelier made in New York by J.F. Donelli, any guess how old?
...I have no idea why I bought it.....may I will find a place for it in some large closet.

idfnl · Jul 29, 2013

Medwed said:
Old Kerman hand made carpet 14x10 , room size well not quite but close.
The market for Persian carpets has collapsed and that is why I could get this kind of thing for under 1K.

Superb rug.

idfnl · Jul 29, 2013

Medwed said:
Linseed oil soak to get depth , dry for a week or two and then semi-gloss lacquer etc. Shellac is not waterproof and not very practical for tables.

Would a French polish give him the result he's looking for?

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 29, 2013

Though it is probably the closest to what would be on a true antique, traditional 'French Polish' is a hellish process to complete and just many many many layers of shellac, so it will be dainty when finished. Also, my experience with french polishing is that it is incredibly difficult to find a skilled finisher and also incredibly expensive to have the project completed.

Unless this is a very significant piece, I wouldn't recommend the approach. If it were his best bet would be to find a person who restores instruments (piano, guitar, violin) in the traditional process and beg them to do the finish (most will turn away pieces that are not in their spectrum of work). A lot of people who promote themselves as french polishers are hacks.

idfnl · Jul 29, 2013

Didn't realize it was that involved.

Alternatively, wouldn't oil (Danish, linseed, tung) and a good English wax work?

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 29, 2013

I use waterlox catalyzed oil when I want a simple, satin, durable finish. But take heed of the warning labels, the stuff is nasty.

idfnl · Jul 29, 2013

SkinnyGoomba said:
I use waterlox catalyzed oil when I want a simple, satin, durable finish. But take heed of the warning labels, the stuff is nasty.

I used waterlox on my hard wood floors. Good stuff.

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 29, 2013

I apply it differently for furniture, since a piece of furniture usually calls for a lighter finish. I apply it by burnishing it in a way similar to french polishing (but not as involved) and I'll reapply until I get the level I'm looking for. Usually at the point where you can start to see some build up.

For something more durable you can have it spray lacquered.

Medwed · Jul 29, 2013

idfnl said:
Superb rug.

Thank you.
It is a traditional design for Kerman, but not widely liked because it is not what most people look for in a carpet design. My wife calls it our Etro rug.

I concur with Goombah, any wood finishing is incredibly time-consuming tedious process that does not allow for any short cuts. I use jewelry polishing wax or car polish sometimes . I find it a little easier than wet sanding with 2000 paper. Next time I am doing refinishing I am going with electric buffer, no more handjobs. :embar:

SkinnyGoomba · Jul 29, 2013

That rug is spectacular.

For anything where I need a high gloss, I have a friend who does spray lacquer and he does it for me.

Medwed · Jul 30, 2013

Goat-heads light fixture.

Medwed · Aug 1, 2013

Armand Sinko before and after pictures.
Cleaned the painting and restored the old maple frame. Bought frame with hideous tapestry inside for 100 at the local auction. Had to apply 10 layers of shellac before i could blend veneer loses (takes so much time I wish I had drying camera).
Ordered linen mat from a local shop put them together and ..you be the judge.
before;

after:

apropos · Aug 1, 2013

A simple English oak sideboard.

SkinnyGoomba · Aug 2, 2013

This may be a difficult question to answer, but would removing a mercury/tin mirror from an 18c frame and replacing it with a silver leaf mirror add to or remove from the value of an antique mirror? I like 18c mirrors, but have no interest in owning something that releases mercury over time.

Medwed · Aug 2, 2013

SkinnyGoomba said:
This may be a difficult question to answer, but would removing a mercury/tin mirror from an 18c frame and replacing it with a silver leaf mirror add to or remove from the value of an antique mirror? I like 18c mirrors, but have no interest in owning something that releases mercury over time.

Find a way to test it first: http://infohouse.p2ric.org/ref/38/37983.pdf

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