If you’re lucky enough to have antique furniture in your home such as antique chairs or tables, then you are going to want to make sure that you don’t damage the furniture or diminish its value through your day-to-day cleaning or maintenance. In this article we share with you some hints and tips on how to care for your antiques and make sure that they are pieces that will be passed down in your family for generations to come, or can reach a fair price at auction.
Caring for the patina
You will often hear furniture experts or antiques appraisers talking about the patina of the furniture. This is a thin layer of sheen that on wooden furniture is produced by age, wear, and polishing. The patina of the wood provides a form of protective covering, helping to preserve the wood, it can also create additional aesthetic appeal. The patina on antique furniture builds up over hundreds of years and needs to be preserved at all costs. You need to avoid using modern spray polishes as these are too harsh and will damage the surface. The best way to preserve and protect the patina is to use a natural beeswax polish to clean and shine the surface of your furniture. Generally a wax polish once a month is sufficient and in between polishing remove any build up of dust with a soft, dry duster.
Monitoring environmental conditions
Some of the biggest dangers to your antique furniture are the conditions of the room in which the furniture is being stored. Direct sunlight can quickly harm your furniture – fading colours, creating an uneven colouring, or cracking the veneer. Fluctuations in temperature or humidity are also a common cause of problems – particularly for wooden furniture as it will cause it to expand and contract resulting in warping. The use of central heating can also have a negative impact on fragile materials such as wood, fabric, and leather as it dries the air of the room. You need to regularly monitor the conditions of your furniture so that you can quickly identify any early indications that environmental damage may be occurring. If you are unsure about whether the conditions of your home are suitable for your antique furniture then seek the advice of an antique furniture expert. Consulting an accredited antique furniture restorer about any concerns that you have will help determine whether it is advisable to have any repair work done on your furniture – this is a specialist job and should be approached with caution.
Moving antiques
Most damage to antique furniture happens when you are trying to move it from one place to another. Moving heavy or bulky furniture is difficult enough at the best of times, but antique furniture is extraordinarily fragile so you need to take every precaution to ensure that you have enough people to lift and move the piece, as well as the appropriate padding and protection if it is being transported anywhere.
Pieces of antique furniture are precious items that should be cherished and cared for, not only are they incredibly valuable from a financial perspective, but the emotional value of furniture that has been in your family for generations is absolutely priceless.