In contrast to the spate of quick-fix makeovers that have become so popular of late,
Restoration Recipes promises to offer a new lease on life to old pieces of furniture. The authors, Julia de Bierre and James Bain Smith, both lecture on restoration and have an impressive heritage as dealer-curator and artist-restorer, respectively. They have written this book for "furniture enthusiasts who share our love for the well-worn antique or second-hand piece and who wish to progress to the rewarding practicalities of restoration work." This sums up the book perfectly. It begins with a guide to purchasing furniture, offering advice on how to develop an eye, for example going to visit museums and collections and investing in good reference books or back auction catalogues. They also tell you what to look out for when scouring flea markets for a potential bargain.
The authors go on to detail the tools and materials you will need for the restoration of wood, upholstery, and surfaces including marble, leather, paint, and gilding. They address potential problems such as treating wood rot or mending surface cracks and offer tips on how to authenticate modern fittings--for example, darkening the gleam of new metal by applying paint-stripper. Each chapter offers particular examples such as a Neoclassical chair, a marbled tabletop, or a gilded mirror, and certain designs such as the Eames chair are knowledgeably placed in their historical context. The restoration instructions include a list of materials, equipment, and step-by-step methods accompanied by photographs. Techniques explained include French polishing, working with gesso as a foundation for paint or gilding, and reupholstering chairs. Finally, the book gives a list of suppliers of specialist materials and equipment.
Restoration Recipes will be a tasty treat for anyone attempting to restore furniture to its traditional splendor.
--Karen Homer
Reader Reviews
This book is an excellent value. It is packed with useful techniques for restoring just about any kind of furniture. The entire book is in full-color. Each project and technique includes a material and equipment list as well as clear step-by-step instructions accompanied by small photos. The book starts out with tips on where to purchase furniture and what to look for when you do. Then it gives you the basics of getting started including tools, finishing, cleaning, stripping, and treating infestation or wood rot. It also has a wonderful section on understanding wood with a nice chart on 15 wood types, their use, advantages and disadvantages. Consolidation of furniture including deciding what parts to keep, dismantling a piece or simply making the furniture joints stronger follows. Consolidation sections specific to chairs, tables, and a chest of drawers provide useful details. They teach things like replacing a broken chair stretcher bar, evening chair legs, mending major cracks, replacing a table chassis, carving a new leg for a tripod table or repairing worn drawer slides. There are two additional sections on metal fittings and upholstery. Molding a backplate, antiquing new metal fittings and replacing a double stuffed seat are just a few of the techniques taught here. The next section focuses on repairing and beautifying surfaces. This includes a great guide to solving common problems like white water marks, dents and scorch marks. Veneer repairs such fixing blisters and removing an old veneer and reusing it as are also covered. It then goes on to demonstrate several surface effects including French polishing, working with gesso, gilding, aging paint, staining, graining, marbling and waxing. The last section includes 12 projects that use the techniques previously covered. In one project, clients need a sixth chair. They find one with a matching back but must replace the entire seating structure and reupholster it. In another project an empire-style night table needs its brass fitting replaced and its tambour door dismantled and refitted. It also needs new stain, French polish and wax. The information here will enable you to take on some tough challenges with satisfying professional results as you restore or enhance fine furniture. To help with any project there is a nice list of suppliers in the back.
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