Shoe Antiquing

[RIDER]

So, we had an 'Italian Street Fair' this weekend here in Richmond and the shop asked me to go and do some of my antiquing work at the fair. Not exactly used to people observing and asking questions as I work, but here are a couple of shoes I was doing this weekend....not finished, and alot of dust was blowing around on the street, but I thought it would be good to see some of the results that a few hours work can bring. One of the local tv stations filmed it....don't know if it aired or not - was too tired to stay up until the newscast last night. The lace-ups started as solid tan, I was just doing the antiquing in contrast as a demo...one man watched me on Saturday and came on Sunday and ordered a pair done the same way (different!) in his size -

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Ron

 

[wgiceman]

Those look fantastic! Can you briefly detail the steps you took to do this? I would like to try it on a pair or two. If I can get results even half as good as this, I would be ecstatic.

 

[Panzeraxe II]

Originally Posted by wgiceman

Those look fantastic! Can you briefly detail the steps you took to do this? I would like to try it on a pair or two. If I can get results even half as good as this, I would be ecstatic.

Amazing work! I would have an interest in learning the steps as well.

 

[nmoraitis]

+1

 

[RJman]

Wow, you can call those "Riderlutis"...

 

[ragdoll]

Ron

You should start an 'antique-ing' service. I'd send you a couple of pairs of JLs that need a little something extra....

 

[lasbar]

Rider work is simply Berlutesque....Very good antiquing job...

A guy in Paris is making a few euros doing exactly that...

 

[Thurston]

Originally Posted by wgiceman

Those look fantastic! Can you briefly detail the steps you took to do this? I would like to try it on a pair or two. If I can get results even half as good as this, I would be ecstatic.

+400

 

[DunninLA]

That is really a great look, on all the shoes.

I have read a few posts about antiquing. Seems it usually involves a little black or also Navy Cordovan creams. I second the request for a recipe-style narrative on antiquing a brown shoe.

I have a pair of inexpensive Santoni Brenden that I would like to see about antiquing much darker... perhaps like an EG Dark Oak color.

Here is a pic. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Are these already too dark to get the proper contrasting that makes antiquing look so good?

Does the stitching around the apron absorb the polish? I had thought it did but I see the stitching on your shoes is still white, and I can't imagine how you could achieve that look and still avoid getting dark polish on the stitching.

Last question! On the balmoral, it looks like the leather under the medallion punching is still light... except for one of the punch holes. I assume one must be very careful with punched areas not to let the dark polish touch it?

 

[Shikar]

*Ron's guide to Antiquing*, would be nice!!

Regards, Azam.

 

[Tarmac]

Beautiful work. If you do reveal your method, this should be stickied as the definitive antiquing thread.

 

[RIDER]

Can you briefly detail the steps you took to do this?

Amazing work! I would have an interest in learning the steps as well.

Beautiful work. If you do reveal your method, this should be stickied as the definitive antiquing thread.

I accept Paypal......

You should start an 'antique-ing' service.

I've done this for years.....just never mentioned it here, I don't think. It takes me about 2-4 hours per pair and I charge $100-$200, depending on the time. I started doing this type of work about 15 years ago when Church's opened a shop in Baltimore and they did not sell cordovan shoes, and only a few dark brown models. Customers would bring new shoes up to our shop (we had a regular street shop and the best shoe repair in Baltimore based out of the basement in the downtown area) to be dyed darker as most of the models they sold were tan or black. It was always just side cash for me and something to do on Saturdays when we had little or no business. One time I really botched a guys' shoes and I thought for sure I would have to buy him a new pair, but he ended up liking them and brought me more to 'screw up'. I thought it was pretty cool and started playing around with different things....kind of taught myself. Of course now it's called 'patina', or 'antiquing', or 'verigated'....then it was just a mistake.

Really, doing 'antiquing' work is easier than plain finishes....don't have to hurry as much. And now that I have hired a salesman and am not traveling much at all, I am around the shop here more and doing these things in a more 'visable' way. Never really stopped though.

Maybe I will put together something with pictures on the process....I don't know, though - took me a long time to learn myself.

Wow, you can call those "Riderlutis"...

But then I would have to find a way to get the finish to crack! Can I charge more for that?

 

[luk-cha]

+1 i would like to learn how to do this i think a how to youtube is called for!

 

[acidboy]

Wow. Perhaps even an online tutorial, Mr. Rider. Please?

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by luk-cha

+1 i would like to learn how to do this i think a how to youtube is called for!

Yes, Rider ,you must film while antiquing and shout "this is youtube material " while doing it.

very nice jobs on those. i would love to learn how to do this!