What is a genuine antique?
It is any object which was manufactured more than one hundred years ago and is in substantially the same condition as when originally made and has not at any time been added to or altered to any material extent whether before or after the centenary date except for the purpose of necessary repair.
What is wood Veneer?
Veneer is a thin sheet of high quality, decorative wood, normally less than 1/8” thick, which is glued to the surface of a lesser quality carcass wood in the construction of furniture to give it added beauty. The wood used for veneering would often have been sourced in the very distant and exotic locations of the world and as a consequence would be in very short supply, not to mention being very expensive.
What is a drawer lining?
Drawer linings are simply the timber from which the bottom, sides and back of a drawer are constructed. They are predominately in pine followed by oak and maple. The drawer front, which may be solid or veneered, will obviously be in the same wood as the rest of the surface of the piece.
What is the difference between Chippendale and Chippendale style?
“Chippendale” means the piece is from or attributable to the workshops of Chippendale and will have been made at the time Chippendale worked in the 18th century. Chippendale style has a different meaning. It gives no indication whatsoever as to age and only refers to the design or style of the piece of furniture. The word style can be used in conjunction with anything. Always ask the one telling question…what age is the piece. One to look out for in auction catalogues!
What type of polish should I use on my antique furniture?
The best type of polish to use on your antique furniture is wax furniture polish that comes in a tin. It can either be brown wax or clear wax for all woods except pine. Do not use brown wax on pine furniture. Wax polish will feed the timber and protect the finish on the timber.
How often should I use wax polish?
A good polish with wax once every 2 or 3 months should suffice, but more often if you feel you need the exercise!
What type of polishes should I NOT use on my antique furniture?
Never use any polishes that contain silicone. Silicone gets underneath the polish, enters the grain of the timber and will eventually destroy the finish. Most modern aerosol polishes such as Pledge-type polishes contain silicone and should be avoided.