Re: Another Question on Refinishing or Not

"Bosk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I know this topic has been discussed quite a bit, but I guess to
> refinish or not depends on the present state and potential value of an
> antique item, and I'd like an opinion on what to do with a couple of
> items I have. 1. An oak, Wernicke 3 cabinet Stratford made barrister's
> bookcase with ogee base which has been much abused and really needs a
> good refinishing. Not paint abuse, but so many scratches and tiny
> gouges. It's structually sound, but also missing 2 of the glass doors
> to the bottom cabinets (D 12 1/2), but the top cabinet has the nice
> leaded glass lattice on it. If sold at auction, I am told it could
> only get 200 Canadian. Would it then be worth more for me to try to
> restore it (also try to buy 2 doors), or would all this lower the
> value even more, even if a good job was done?
>
> 2. I also have a weird looking little sewing cabinet/box that is
> shaped a little bit like a barn, with the roof opening up and sliding
> back from the edges in 2 pieces. It also has many brass thread spool
> holders/brackets on the lid and a carrying handle in the middle.
> However, though also structually sound, it also is in terrible looking
> condition with varnish missing and ugly water stains all over the
> reddish wood (cherry?). I'd really like to make this little item
> better looking (though it hasn't been appraised), since it would be
> much easier to do than the bookcase, being so small and portable. I've
> had experience refinishing various kinds of furniture, but none as old
> as these 2 items, and I wouldn't want to devalue them in the effort.
> Thanks for any advice.

    The "shouldn't have refinished, it ruined the value" caveat
    is given when the item is a fine antique that would have been
    in great condition before it was "fixed".   You see this on
    the US version of Antiques Roadshow, when someone
    brings in a refinished piece of 1700s Philadelphia furniture.

    Antiques Roadshow has had so many comments on the
    issue, they've even put up a webpage here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/series/behind/cook/2000/11.06.00.html

    An interesting comment on that page (yes, it's from
    a "professional refinisher") states:

    ""But the ROADSHOW reaches millions of people who
    almost never see this type of furniture other than in
    museums. These people are misled because the
    appraisers don't establish that they're only talking about
    rare pieces when they claim that value is lost by
    repairing or refinishing." Further, when the experts are
    dealing with a piece that has been repaired or refinished,
    the writer continues, "they don't point out that the
    [piece] was most likely in poor or unpresentable
    condition to begin with, or it wouldn't have been
    repaired or refinished."

    As for your bookcase:  repair away, and make it
    something that you'd want to have in your home,
    rather than something relegated to the garage.
Kris