Discovered in a somewhat neglected state this Victorian/Regency ladies travel jewelry and writing case was in need of some restoration. The outside was caked in a hundred years of grime, paint splashes and degrading shellac finish. There was also some damage to the hinge mechanism due to excess pressure on the hinge when opening the unit. Inside the finish was a little dirty and one drawer had a split cross its base.
Before photos
Work done:
Identified the type of varnish originally used: Shellac
Removed paint spots using a scraper. Gently cleaned the shellac work using water and cotton. Removed the peaks of the cracked shellac with a razor blade. Repaired the scratches using alcohol, shellac and a French polishing pad. Repolished the external surfaces.
Repaired the crack in writing drawer base with Isocyanate glue. Removed the cabinet front, two of the four 2G x 9mm screws were missing. Repaired the cracked timber and veneer around the broken hinge mechanism. Made two replacement screws from some larger brass screws. Cleaned a replenished the shellac on the two surfaces before reassembling.
The separators in the top cabinet were loose and needed cleaning and reattaching.
Very pleased to have had to the opportunity to work on this very special piece of family history.
