| The point of restoration most often discussed, | | | | doors, handles and the edges of work surfaces. Then |
| sometimes argued but rarely agreed upon is patina. | | | | there is the build-up of human body oils which are |
| There is no real right and wrong but there is a very | | | | present as darker regions around handles, finger grips |
| strong sense of responsibility on our part for | | | | and key escutcheons; and subtle variations in colour |
| conserving our past in a sympathetic manner and not | | | | about the feet and plinth from a gradual build-up of |
| disturbing more than is necessary. This does not | | | | both wax and dust, as well as in quirks, hard to |
| always please the customer, especially those who call | | | | access areas and tarnish-coated brassware such as |
| on you with a piece of furniture that is pristine | | | | handles, locks, hinges, escutcheons and castors etc. |
| condition and in need of no more than a good clean | | | | Patina is an overall summation of all of these factors |
| and wax. We explain the way we would approach | | | | and more that gives a piece of furniture a warmth |
| the restoration of that article and they say "No! I | | | | and character that no restorer or polisher can |
| want it stripped, sanded and refinished- I want it | | | | re-create in a short period of time. If you have |
| looking new again." | | | | anything like this, treasure it -it is the ultimate. Add to |
| Then, a long silence and an attempt to dissuade the | | | | it, nourish it, but for goodness sake, try never to |
| owner from causing irreversible harm to the piece of | | | | disturb it. Care must be taken to retain as much of |
| furniture by removing its well-worn finish or patina. | | | | the old as is possible. Disturb only if there is no other |
| Patina, as defined in the dictionary, is "a gloss | | | | choice but to make repairs to polished surfaces |
| produced by age on wood", which is probably | | | | because a piece of furniture must be workable and |
| oversimplified, as this does not take into | | | | useful. Patina holds a fascination for the true collector |
| consideration the role of the millions of scars, | | | | wondering who once used this piece and what they |
| scratches and bruises, along with a gentle | | | | were like. Did they care for this piece, or was it just |
| discolouration of both the polish and the faded upper | | | | a utilitarian piece? These years of use should not be |
| surface of the timber. With rustic or primitive | | | | lost, as it is like tearing pages out of a hook of |
| furniture the paint will mellow, being rubbed through | | | | history if the patina is removed. |
| on busy areas such as around edges of cupboard | | | | |