February 1, 2023
MCS - Over 100 Years Experience
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Preserving Value of Antiques
Will Stripping and Re-Finishing De-Value My Furniture?
By Ed Mayorga
I am a professional refinisher who takes great pride in my work. I want beautiful results for you.
I am frequently asked if the value of furniture will be diminished if I elect to refinish? This question often comes from segments seen in Antiques Roadshow’s programming.
I asked people to keep in mind that the Antiques Roadshow is entertainment. The appraisers and moderators are extremely knowledgeable. Their focus is primarily on those unique museum quality collector pieces which have survived the decades free of sun bleaching, humidity variations and damage caused by normal use. These pieces are extremely rare. We recommend that our customers get an appraisal from a certified appraiser if they have any inkling they own one of these rarities.
Most of the furniture brought to us have broken joints or pieces and a marginal finish. A worn finish that acquires a contaminant or even the oil from your hand can devalue the piece significantly more than refinishing. Can you guess who stated in a Professional Refinishing magazine; “a well-executed refinishing and restoration usually enhances the value of just about any piece of old furniture’? This quote is from Peter Cook, Executive Producer of Antiques Roadshow. He goes on to describe some of the most valuable finds in the show have previously been professionally refinished.
I want clients to understand the primary reason for a finish is to protect and beautify the wood. Once this finish has deteriorated, the primary objective cannot be met. We find that many of the old pieces have finishes harmed by todays cleaners and polishes. For more information, see our article on “Waxes and Cleaners“
A NOTE ABOUT PATINA-
Patina? How is it possible that we see modern furniture advertised as having that rich patina finish?
To most connoisseurs patina mean that aged look, created by the environment and years of applications of waxes, oils, TLC and non-TLC.
Do the years worth of wax buildup and soiling count as patina? Do yellow sunbleached top and cracks caused by the sun grace a piece with patina? The consensus. The Jury is still out.
A finish can be applied which resembles the darkened, mellow shade of brown which replicates that ‘patina’ look. When applied professionally it is virtually impossible to distinguish from that truly aged piece.
Master Craftsmen Services, Inc.
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