Antique restorations may be as simple as some cleaning and minor repairs or it may involve almost a complete rebuild. There is a big difference between restoration and repair. A repair simply makes the item functional once more whereas restoration involves bringing back the beauty of its original appearance.
Restoring items is a challenging and time consuming business. It is a craft in the sense that it involves many skills such as carpentry, painting and many more. It is an art in the sense that restorers need some historical background and a sensitivity to understand exactly what is required to bring a piece back to its original state without going too far and removing its distinctiveness.
Antiques are more than a 100 years old and there are marks of age that collectors look for. There are the normal marks of wear and tear which help to give the item its character. Some people make the mistake of removing these marks. Of course there are undesirable blemishes which may be removed. A trained restorer would understand which marks were important. For example the grooves left by the hand planers used are left as are any numbers chiseled into the piece.
The intricacy of the process and all the skills required means that learning the business does not happen overnight. It takes years to pick up the necessary skills. Some restorers are lucky enough to have gone through an apprenticeship program of many years to learn these skills.
The complexity of the work means that a great variety of skills are needed. A working knowledge of materials and their behavior is just one necessary area of study. A love of history also helps. A certain amount of physical stamina is needed too as much of the work involves hours of painstaking labor.
If pieces are damaged to such an extent that materials need to be replaced, using the right ones is important. Materials have to be sourced which are as close as possible to those used originally. For example, reupholstering a chair with a type of fabric not found in the era in which it was made would destroy its authenticity. Some restorers use a combination of old and new methods and tools. Others stick entirely to the tools, methods and materials which would have been used to make the item in the first place.
Restoring of antiques is often attempted by those who do not understand the intricacies involved. Unfortunately this often results in mistakes causing the value of the piece to be compromised. Even the way in which a piece is cleaned can damage the patina and lessen its value. Individuals often do not have the skills, tools, workshop and storage space required for any major restorations.
Antique restorations are very demanding and can take up much time and effort. Any major repairs are best left to the professionals. In the right hands, antiques will retain their value, give pleasure for many years and can be admired by future generations as an example of a particular era of history.
Restoring items is a challenging and time consuming business. It is a craft in the sense that it involves many skills such as carpentry, painting and many more. It is an art in the sense that restorers need some historical background and a sensitivity to understand exactly what is required to bring a piece back to its original state without going too far and removing its distinctiveness.
Antiques are more than a 100 years old and there are marks of age that collectors look for. There are the normal marks of wear and tear which help to give the item its character. Some people make the mistake of removing these marks. Of course there are undesirable blemishes which may be removed. A trained restorer would understand which marks were important. For example the grooves left by the hand planers used are left as are any numbers chiseled into the piece.
The intricacy of the process and all the skills required means that learning the business does not happen overnight. It takes years to pick up the necessary skills. Some restorers are lucky enough to have gone through an apprenticeship program of many years to learn these skills.
The complexity of the work means that a great variety of skills are needed. A working knowledge of materials and their behavior is just one necessary area of study. A love of history also helps. A certain amount of physical stamina is needed too as much of the work involves hours of painstaking labor.
If pieces are damaged to such an extent that materials need to be replaced, using the right ones is important. Materials have to be sourced which are as close as possible to those used originally. For example, reupholstering a chair with a type of fabric not found in the era in which it was made would destroy its authenticity. Some restorers use a combination of old and new methods and tools. Others stick entirely to the tools, methods and materials which would have been used to make the item in the first place.
Restoring of antiques is often attempted by those who do not understand the intricacies involved. Unfortunately this often results in mistakes causing the value of the piece to be compromised. Even the way in which a piece is cleaned can damage the patina and lessen its value. Individuals often do not have the skills, tools, workshop and storage space required for any major restorations.
Antique restorations are very demanding and can take up much time and effort. Any major repairs are best left to the professionals. In the right hands, antiques will retain their value, give pleasure for many years and can be admired by future generations as an example of a particular era of history.
