Wood Objects

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Wooden objects, whether furniture or statuary, usually come to MPF Conservation with:

	loose joinery,
	bug infestation and/or damage,
	breaks in the frame or veneer, or
	a severely compromised finish.

Sometimes the initial damage is very old, and a home or in-house repair was performed, and that repair is not visually satisfying, or is coming apart.

Finishes are typically monochromatic or polychromatic painted finishes, true varnishes, or waxes. Occasionally they have been stripped and refinished in a polymer "varnish." Occasionally we are asked to restore a piece that has been stripped of its original finish. We utilize techniques and materials appropriate to the history of the piece.

MPFC's conservation treatment is usually performed with a combination of techniques from the appropriate time period. New materials are introduced when necessary, utilizing barriers to ensure reversibility.

In some cases, new wooden pieces must be duplicated to replace completely disintegrated parts of the frame. We use appropriately aged woods, and finishes should be duplicated in age appropriate techniques on newly formed parts to match the older areas.

From our resume of pieces, below (though several pieces of Upholstered objects also have finish work and repairs):

	GERMANIC LIVERY TABLE (PDF): A Family Heirloom, this Livery Cabinet was passed down thought several generations. It was thought to be made in Kentucky, but after closer inspection it may have been an import built in the European High Country.
	1730 PAINTED WINDSOR CHAIR (PDF): This family heirloom is from the early 18th Century, and had the original monochromatic finish. We repaired loose joints, used a barrier and performed some infill on two large chips in the seat, and preserved the existing original finish.
	IMPERIAL BUFFET (PDF): This piece was one of the original three dozen pieces bought for the first Crater Lake Superintendent's House. It has unusual features, like a hidden prohibition bar that is accessed through the top drawer! See all three dozen pieces on our page covering the NPS Imperial Monterey line, including the IMPERIAL CORNER HUTCH.
	PRIMITIVE WOOD BOX (PDF): Possibly made by the by one of the Superintendents, this wood box has been part of the collection in the first Superintendent's House at Crater Lake National Park. Layers and layers of shellac and polychromatic paint over many years had created a wonderful patina. We repaired cracks, then cleaned and protected the finish. See all three dozen pieces on our page covering the NPS Imperial Monterey line.
	BUCKS COUNTY TILT-TOP TABLE (PDF): A family heirloom, this Bucks County Pennsylvania piece circa 1750 was passed down through the generations. It came to us with several cracks in the base and a cracked top. The finish was compromised. Our goal was to repair all compromised areas; assess previous repairs (but not necessarily "fix" them); clean, repair (where necessary), and preserve the original finish.
	RANCH WINDSOR (PDF COMING SOON!): This barrel-backed Windsor, a family heirloom, is used daily on a Ranch in Oregon. The arm, back, and seat had serious breaks and splits, and the finish was compromised. We repaired the compromised areas, cleaned, repaired, and preserved the original finish.
	MUSIC STAND (PDF): A sentimental family heirloom, this piece was to be conserved so that the very old music books that were embedded in the finish stayed intact, while the frame was repaired.
	LATE 1800 GERMAN RENAISSANCE REVIVAL BUFFET (PDF): A German family heirloom, this piece needed some disassembly as many joints were loose, and the finish was compromised. When this piece was conserved, we had no digital camera, but we visited our client and took photos fifteen years later.

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Most of our PDF files are not printable. If you would like a copy of them, or the ability to print them, contact us at dkatiepowell@aol.com