Looking after your antique furniture
If you want to look after your antique furniture so it can have years more use but also do not want to ruin your antiques then read on, as we have years of experience.
antique furniture builds up a patina and old marks over many years and this adds to the character and value so it should be preserved.
It is best not to strip the old finish away, instead try to revive the original finish by waxing. Waxing antique furniture is quick and easy and gives the best results, use a good quality wax like fiddes antique furniture wax (not spray polishes) by putting a small amount of polish on cloth and rub the piece in the direction of the grain until it shines. It is quick easy and simple to use and once done the polish will only need a dust.
If the wood is very dry, you will need to wax the piece of antique furniture several times until a good patina has developed. To keep on top of the piece and keep it looking good I recommend you should use antique furniture wax polish your item every few months but buff up the piece in-between waxing as this will enhances the patina.
Sunlight, humidity and central heating can affect the wood by cracking the wood or the light can cause fading, so try not to put your furniture in direct sunlight or if going near a radiator try not to have the temperature too high, and always nourish the wood with antique furniture wax to make sure it does not dry out.
If your item of antique furniture needs some restoration then we always recommend sympathetic restoration and still to keep the item as original as possible. You should only use a reputable professional restorer who will use the correct traditional materials like us at driscolls antiques. If your veneer is chipped or lifted you should have it repaired quickly as it is easy to loose small pieces of veneer and then it is very hard to find matching veneers in the same wood. Drawers and doors which stick can be eased by rubbing candle wax on the surface or sides or even by using fiddes wax if a candle is not available.
Antique furniture should be treated with care when moving around your room, and using. It is important not to tilt back on a chair as this loosens joints and causes very bad damage. Don’t open a drawer using only one of two handles as this can damage the drawer lining and don’t drag furniture rather than lift it as this will cause veneer to chip off the base.
If you need more advice then you can contact us or if you want to buy quality antiques ready restored then here at driscolls antiques ltd we beautifully restore all our antiques and deliver them into your house using a two man fully insured professional delivery team who will carefully handle and assemble your antique furniture.
