Antique Furniture Restoration, Conservation and Repair

Malcolm Green has over 45 years experience restoring and repairing antique furniture. Over that period he has gained a number of uncommon skills which are in high demand:

• Water and oil gilding, lost wax casting, period interiors.
• Metal work, japanning, brass work.
• Cabinet making and carving.
• De-warping, French polishing and stain removal.
• Veneer work, marquetry, inlay work.
• Restoration of antique upholstery.

Below are some recent projects which have employed one or several of these skills.

Dutch Marquetry Commode Circa 1690.

This fine antique Dutch marquetry commode had suffered rather badly over the years with large parts of the veneer missing. Some of the mouldings were broken, too.

This chest had missing handles which had to be re-made by the lost wax principle. To achieve this, a handle was copied by making a clay mould which was filled with wax. The wax was then melted and the void filled with molten brass.

Boxwood was used for most of the inlay work. This boxwood was coloured green for the foliage and yellow for the petals. Laburnum and other rare woods were also used.

Dutch marquetry in this fashion was used in England during the William and Mary period. The Dutch arrived in England to assist in draining the fens and brought their woodworking skills with them.

Two fine Regency Hall chairs rather burnt and damaged.

In the photograph below you can see two rather fine Regency Hall chairs after a very hot fire where the house was totally destroyed.

Most of the furniture was damaged, but these two Regency home chairs survived more or less as you can see the veneer is peeling off and the wood has split.

In the second photograph you can see the two chairs after restoration ready to go off to the owner's new house.

The veneer had to be replaced using original Cuban mahogany, all the joints were re-made, and the Hall chairs were then polished using shellac as per the original.

A Ladies Regency Work Cabinet after Restoration.

This fine antique cabinet was made from the best flame mahogany, with a fine walnut interior, and boxwood topped drawers with ivory handles. This piece also contained a rare example of detailed pen work on the underside.

Below is a photograph of this fine decorative pen work. If you look to the bottom left of the oval, you can see a fly which has been skillfully painted to appear realistic.

Prior to restoration, the table was in an appalling condition; both dirty and dusty, having been kept in storage for many years.

A pre-Raphaelite oil painting with a broken resin frame.

The frame of this painting was resin moulded, a rather modern approach for its time. First a frame was carved from wood, then it was cast using a plaster of paris mould. Within this mould, a resin was laid and when dried, was coloured to resemble the wooden frame. This meant that many frames could be produced from the same wood.

The frame above has sections missing in two places and damaged corners.
To restore this antique frame, the first step was to make a carving to match the surrounding work, and then have a cast made. Once this was done, a resin copy was made which was coloured to match the surrounding frame.

The artwork had to be cleaned and re-stretched once the carving was undertaken. It is essential that the piece be restored with the artist's integrity intact, which meant that the methods used were contemporary.

Antique Pier Glasses After Restoration

Mahogany marble topped consul table circa 1746

This Regency table came into our workshop painted white and broken with two missing legs. It was restored to its original glory.

Peace of mind

For your peace of mind, our workshop is fully alarmed and your antique furniture insured whilst on our premises.
Our expertise includes cabinet making, carving, water and oil gilding, dutch marquetry, scratch stock cutting techniques, japanning, veneer work, enamelling and french polishing.

All items are wood wormed prior to entering our workshop. Period staining of replacement timber is also on our long list of expertise and we have a comprehensive stock of original period veneers.

Churches and Cathedrals ... Furniture restoration ...

We have undertaken restoration and conservation work in the UK and from around the world. We have worked in embassies, museums and stately homes. Some of our more recent commissions have included pieces from the American Embassy, the Dr. Samuel Hahnemann collection in Germany, and other private collections.

Green & Cockburn are also available for restoration, renovation, conservation and repair work in churches and cathedrals.

Antique furniture problems - help, advice, quotations...

We are more than happy to give you a free, no-obligation quote for any restoration work.

If you have a piece that you would like to have restored but are unsure as to whether restoration is possible, or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact Green & Cockburn. We are more than happy to meet you in person to discuss your requirements, too.

Why not view more before and after photos of our recent antique furniture restorations? You will be pleasantly surprised!

Looking for an experienced antique furniture restorer? contact

Green & Cockburn on …
Tel: 01462 790646 or E-mail enquiries@greenrestoration.co.uk