The French Polish effect
We prefer to restore and repolish our antiques as we sell them.
The reason is that once sold, we know the requirements of the buyers and can adjust the finish so to have them satisfied to the best possible degree.
We have opened the English antiques’ store less than a year ago, so many of our clients are still first time buyers, and are initially sceptical of French polishing. This technique is often unheard of and many local restorers do not use it, preferring oiling, waxing, spraying, and many antique dealers even suggest that it’s better to leave antiques as they are.
Unfortunately for them, we know that it’s wrong and just convenient, and we have 30 years of experience in the business in Europe, where restorers that are true to the tradition do it the right way, that is, french polishing.
So, with very few restorers use this old technique that was traditionally implemented to higher end antiques for centuries, and to English antique furniture in particular.
That’s why many don’t know what french polishing is about, what is shellac, and confuse the shine of hand rubbed shellac with modern polyurethane sprayed contemporary and reproduction furniture.
However, in ALL cases, the clients that trusted us and our restoration technique were not disappointed, they were ALL impressed and satisfied of the quality of the finish.
Besides, when shellac is applied with a rubbing pad, pieces cannot shine perfectly as if glazed and like pieces that are spray lacquered.
The finish, however accurate, will never be perfect and look vitrified.
We are sorry, but it’s done by hand, it shows and it must!
That’s how pieces were finished originally when made by skilled craftsmen of the past centuries, and that’s how we do it in the 21st century and as it should always be done forever.
There’s no other way to recover the original look and the full value of an antique!
