Antique Restoration is Both an Art and a Science

Antique furniture refers to those interiorof removing the disfiguring dirt, grime, stain, or
furnishings that are of significant age. Generally,any other foreign materials that the furniture
these furnishings function as human supportacquired through the years. However, careful
fixtures such as beds, tables, and chairs; orconsideration to maintain the "old" appearance of
storage equipment such as cabinets, drawers,the furniture should be made. This type of antique
shelves, and the like. Apart from playing functionalrestoration is usually applicable for paintings, jars,
roles in the daily existence of men, antiquepots, goblets, and other small furniture. On the
furniture also function as decorations and designsother hand, there are some cases when the
in one's home. Antiques can also be in the form ofantique furniture is valued only when they seem
religious or cultural symbols. Basically, antiqueuseful or functional. This is usually the case of
furniture can be made from various materialsantique cabinets, chairs, tables, drawers and other
such as wood, metal, glass, or plastic. The valuestorage furniture. As such, light cleaning will no
and price of an antique is basically based on itslonger be sufficient. Refinishing, stripping, and
age, condition, and its peculiarity orrepairing should also be made. Such processes
uncommonness. In the quest to preserve themay entail the replacement of some parts of the
value and price of such precious tools, peopleantique furniture. Polishing and repainting can also
have tried various processes to "restore" antiquebe considered. However, regardless of the
furniture. Such art and science that wasprocess that will be applied, it is important to note
developed, is referred to as Antique Restoration.that the value of the antique should be retained
Factors to Be Considered In Antique Restorationor increased after the restoration process.
The main purpose of antique restoration is toAnother form of antique restoration is
maintain the value and worth of the piece. Asconservation. Unlike other restoration processes
such, the usual main basis for the antique's worththat aim to retain the object's functionality or
is its age or its functionality. In restoring antiqueappealing form, conservation is mainly concerned
furniture, it is often necessary to first examinewith the preservation of the remaining material.
whether the age or the functionality of the itemNote that in such cases, the value and worth of
should be emphasized or prioritized. Note thatthe antique solely depend on the fact that it is old.
there are some antique furniture collectors whoBasically, conservation is highly applicable for an
value the "patina" of the item. As such, theyantique furniture piece that is only displayed. In the
make it a point to examine if the appearance ofconservation process, the task of the antique
the item still reflects its age and aesthetic value.restorer is to not to make the object seem new.
In such cases where the age of the furnitureInstead, he needs to stop or slow down the
should be reflected by its appearance, lightdeterioration process of the antique material.
cleaning should be made. Light cleaning refers toDriscolls Antiques is a leading supplier of quality
the form of restoration that involves the processantiques and antique furniture.