Antique Furniture Restoration Cornwall and Devon

Antique furniture restoration and repair

Furniture repairs undertaken. Restorer and French polisher of old and new pieces, cabinet making veneering inlay French polishing, upholstery and many other associated repair services. Fire and flood restoration to antiques and insurance work regularly undertaken. Onsite repairing and polishing service can be undertaken on those larger items such as large glazed antique bookcases, doors, staircases and balustrades, skirting and paneling. Collection and delivery service of your antique furniture can be arranged throughout the UK. We are a a family business based in Lostwithiel Cornwall which is in the south west of England and with 35years experience in furniture repairs and polishing.

Insurance claims for damaged furniture.
Many customers have accidental damage cover for their furniture and contents. Insurance assessments and reports are regularly carried out. For further information
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Modern furniture restoration

There is an increasing demand for 20th century furniture needing restoration particularly that which was made in the 50s through to the 70s, Nathan, Ducal G Plan and Strongbow. The requirement is more in the realm of re-polishing rather than repair. Ercol is also featuring regularly in our enquiries.

Work in commercial premises.
Cornwall furniture restoration is also able to carry out a furniture repairs and refurbishment service to hotels, retirement homes, offices and reception areas. For all your restoration and polishing requirements please do not hesitate to contact us at the above addresses. Please contact us. You are invited to browse our site pages which can be accessed from the grey link buttons above. If you are an existing customer thank you for coming back or if you found us through Google thanks for dropping by.

Restoration to boat interiors.
I was commissioned this year to carry out repairs to the living compartments of a 32foot yacht. The work included minor repair and the coloring out of scratches and marks. If you have a boat that needs any similar work undertaking please let me know

Advice on condition of antique furniture.
If you have items that you are concerned about, I can make a visit and carry out repair inspections by appointment.

restoration and repairs to an Edwardian display cabinet

This Edwardian display cabinet had suffered major breakages and needed repairs as well as re-polishing

Burst pipes or flood damaged furniture The first 8 weeks of 2010 have been extremely busy due to the damage caused to antique and modern furniture by burst pipes and flooding. Many pieces were written off by insurers, but a lot has been saved, bringing many items back to its former glory . If you have any flood or water damaged items in need of repair or restoration then please give me a call on 01208 871444, or email me at iantiques@btinternet.com		Optimum Brasses We can make plate handles or pulls, key escutcheons, knobs, pear-drops and axe-drops, hinges, feet and castors, table clips, bolts and catches, finials and spandrels for clocks, mounts, mouldings and paterae, bolt covers, keys and dresser hooks, upholstery pins, parts for pianos and many architectural items. For a fast, personal service phone us on +44 (0)1398 331515; or, for greater credit card security, use the Google Checkout service - this can add several days to the order processing time. To view our website click Optimum Brasses Cornwall Furniture restoration thoroughly recommend this companies products and service.
This walnut writing slope has been fully restored	This included replacing the leather

Has there been a better time to buy antique furniture?
19th October 2009. In my opinion no! The cost of purchasing such items has come down drastically over the last 3 years and it is now a buyers market. Ten years ago the cost of a typical late eighteenth century furniture bow fronted chest of drawers in restored condition was around £750. That same piece would cost around the same price, if not a little less. Similarly a good Georgian mahogany bureau in need of some restoration would cost about £1200 ten years ago in auction. That same antique bureau could probably be purchased for around £400-500 today

this eighteenth century mahogany bureau has been repaired and polished

Repairs and polishing to an eighteenth century mahogany bureau

this is an image of a tunbridgeware box after repairs and polishing

Tunbridgeware of this quality is always rewarding to work on

furniture removals based in Lostwithiel
Rightmove Lostwithiel A small friendly professional removal company with 20 years experience, providing quality removals locally ,nationwide and to France. All packing materials , packing service and secure storage are available and quotes are provided without obligation ( removals into Cornwall from out of county gladly welcomed). Phone Steve on 01208 872441 and mobile 07974 180041 or visit his website at Lostwithiel Removals

Restoration and polishing carried out on a good quality early nineteenth century mahogany Canterbury. There were two pieces of cock beading missing, some loose casters and a few breaks and loose joints. One of the drawer knobs was also damaged and had to be re-turned. The Canterbury then had to be cleaned back, grain filled and French polished.

A mahogany Canterbury after having repairs and French polishing

BONHAMS AUCTIONEERS PAR CORNWALL 6th December 2008 It is with great sadness to hear that Bonhams are no longer holding antique auctions at their Par Offices. I believe the office is going to remain open as a sorting office, but that sales will cease. Bonhams has been a great source for acquiring antique furniture for restoration and will be sadly missed along with the staff.

this unrestored pitch pine pew needed restoration and polishing

Repairs to a Victorian church pew.

This pitch pine pew had spent some time outdoors where it had dried out and bleached in the sun. After restoration of the timber, and repairing all the joints, the painted surface had to be stripped prior to wax polishing.

The pew was repaired and then refinished, removing the paint

WOODWORKING TOOLS SECTION . In the next few weeks I will be writing an article on some of my favorite woodworking tools used in antique furniture restoration. Please click on the link below

Antique furniture restoration and repair
I have been involved in repairs and polishing of antique furniture in Cornwall for the past 31 years and have restored items from the early 17th century through to the 21st century. The restoration involves hard, physical work. Job satisfaction in my opinion only comes at the end of a project when the restorer casts his eye over the antique item and is satisfied that all the necessary repairs and French polishing undertaken have brought the item of antique furniture up to a level that is both practically and visually pleasing.

I will fully discuss all aspects of repair and restoration with you and special care will be taken with collection and delivery of the item. Collection and delivery of the item can be arranged not only in Cornwall but throughout the UK if required.

Visit our French polishing page
please click on image

Workshop or onsite
Normally it is better and easier for antique furniture restoration to be carried out at our workshop in Cornwall. There are many reasons for this and include accessibility to all the restorers tools and clamps etc, all his polishes an tints and the use of a sturdy bench and vice. Also drying times for certain glues can be up to 48 hours. French Polishing normally results in many coats being applied to the item over a period of many days. Quite often it is necessary to repair onsite in Cornwall with larger or fixed items. Whenever Cornwall furniture restoration are asked to work onsite we endeavor to keep the area as clean and tidy as possible and to cause as little disruption as is necessary.

This upright modern Knight piano had suffered severe water damage to the case after a burst pipe had sprayed water over the front surfaces. The bottom panel had sustained most damage along with the lid. After restoring the surface with various solvents all the marks on the piano were removed. The surfaces were then waxed to give the carcase more protection.

This piano had suffered severe water damage to its carcase

Antique repairs to the back of an ash country chair

This very pretty country chair was brought into me to have some major repairs done on the arm and back. It has had some drastic repairs carried out some time ago. The furniture restoration was somewhat clumsily done, although the break was severe and drastic, measures had to be taken to strengthen the joint. To see the finished result click on the photo and scroll down the french polishing page.

Restorers blog

14th August Repairing oak drawer leaf table and large pine farmhouse table, waxing and finishing

16th July 2010 Repairs and refinishing of late eighteenth century mahogany longcase clock

24th June 2010 restoring early nineteenth century clock hood

!5th June 2010 Restoring eighteenth century walnut chest of drawers

15th May 2010 Repairs to tunbridgeware tea caddy and repairing georgian oak chest of drawers

29th Feb 2010 Furniture restoration and French polishing including nest of 4 mahogany tables and a mahogany serpantine chest of drawers

20th Feb 2010. Furniture repairs to a set of early nineteenth century hall chairs. Also repair of Victorian rosewood work table.

4th Jan 2010. Caught up in the winter snow, Spending my time finishing off work from the previous year.

4th Dec 2009 An interesting week including polishing a quarter size snooker table

12th Sept 2009 A varied week including some long overdue flood damaged furniture

16th August 2009 Repairs to a good quality regency mahogany pedestal table

1st July 2009 Complete restoration to an eighteenth century oak and cross-banded chest of drawers

17th June 2009. Just finished furniture repairs to a good antique French armoire. it weighed a ton.

23rd May 2009. Re-polishing the top of a large oak occasional table. Repairs to a Victorian card table and mahogany cabinet. Restoration of late eighteenth century sewing box

8th May. Furniture repairs carried out this week include, the refinishing of a mahogany sideboard and a small mahogany worktable

6th April Its been a very busy couple of months with yet more flood damaged furniture coming back to the workshop for repair and polishing. One of the better items was an early 19th century rosewood chiffonier with a marble top.

12th Feb 2009 Restoration of flood damaged table

19th Dec 2008, some of the repairs included and Edwardian revolving bookcase and a walnut dining table

12th December 2008 Restoration and polishing of a Victorian double wardrobe

27th 11- 2008 Re-polishing a flood damaged 1920 burr walnut cocktail. Restoring deep burn mark on a mahogany display cabinet. Repairs and refinishing a Georgian style mahogany stool

20th Nov 2008 Polishing an extremely interesting extending circular mahogany dining table

6th November 2008 Antique furniture includes restoration of a late eighteenth century mahogany dining chair. Edwardian revolving bookcase.

31st October 2008 An unusually small Edwardian inlaid bureau bookcase.

19th 10-2008 A hectic 10 days with the refinishing of two large antique armoires. Hopefully some smaller furniture this week.

12th-10-2008 Antique repairs to 1920s mahogany extending dining table

4th October 2008 Restoration of a good cylinder topped desk, made in mahogany and dating around the early eighteen hundreds. Repairs and polishing of a mid eighteenth century mahogany pad foot dining table.

7th September 2008 With all the rain we have had lately it is hardly surprising to get some flood damaged antique furniture for restoration. A Victorian mahogany hallstand and a rosewood davenport needed the complete works.

27th -08-08 A mixed lot this week including a teak veneered dining table , an Anglo Indian inlaid workbox ,a cheval mirror and a Minty upholstered chair

2nd August 2008 Antique furniture restoration included the restoring of a large oak cabinet possibly constructed with 17th century carved panels. this can be viewed on our French polishing page

19th July 2008 Yet another busy week including repairs a Victorian burr walnut desk, refinishing an Edwardian marquetry tray and various assessments.

4th July 2008. Repairs and polishing to a good eighteenth century hanging corner cupboard. Some small Victorian tables and a fire screen. What has happened to the summer?

21st June 2008. Antique furniture restoration this week include an extremely attractive satinwood leather topped desk, and a marble topped centre table. This desk is shown in the blog section at the bottom of the French polishers page

9th June 2008. Again lots of variation including restoring a modern bedroom suite, repairs to an antique mahogany drop leaf table and French polishing and restoring a 1930`s oak demi- lune side table.

09-05-2008 Restoration this week included a well inlaid marquetry two tier table (see photo of table at bottom of French polishing webpage.)

A good colored oak desk after restoration

Repairs to an oak desk
This antique desk required full restoration including the replacement of much veneer. A key had to be cut and the handles cleaned and polished. The desk was then stripped and French polished prior to wire wool and waxing.

Collection and delivery service
Cornwall Furniture Restoration is based in the southwest of England and although we principally operate in the southwest we are able to collect and deliver anywhere in the UK if required.

Restoration and repairs have been carried out on these victorian display cabinets

Restoration of cabinets in the Rashleigh Gallery, Royal Cornwall Museum Truro.
These good quality mahogany cabinet have been completely restored allowing the
drawers to be used for display purposes.

Here is a beautiful burr walnut partners desk

Repair and re-polishing of burr walnut partners desk

Cornwall Furniture Restoration tel. 01208 871444

Cornwall Furniture Restoration furniture restoration and repair French polishing antique and modern