Re: What does "original finish" mean, exactly?

> Grunge is a form of rock music popular in Seattle, Washington.
>
> So....maybe I ranted...just a little. Sorry.
>
> C.

Not a rant, “C,” but an informed piece that gets to the heart of things 
antique.  Suggest you publish it somewhere, eh?

I think a person can draw out where they need to “go” using your areas 
of questioning, examples and analogies.

Questions, as you suggest might be, “what is this piece, it’s history 
and place in the future, and what might be the purpose and possibilities 
of doing this, that and the other thing to it and for what end?” You 
need the contextual framework and knowledge to start with.
and like any like any art-specialty that’s gained by a lot of learning, 
experiences and hard work over time.

One thing you bring up and others do as well is that us plebs need 
remember that “antiques” is a general term to cover hundreds of years 
before going into “antiquities” and classes of items. In general though, 
I suspect that most people are thinking of more recent times and also 
the lesser expensive sort of antiques (another issue) when they use the 
term. This does cause confusion when talking about conservation, 
restoration, refinishing and the like as many people like to think their 
“antique” may be a lotto.

>>“My work on them was done not to
fool anyone, but to try and put something of its old spirit back, to
continue pleasing  people.”

There you go. Reminds me of my dad. Mum always wanted a spinning wheel. 
He worked on farms, so one day he was trucking around a field and found 
the grey, weathered remains of an old spinning wheel....He did beautiful 
work. The painted over sideboard without a top mum dragged over to the 
hysterical laughter of a group of aunties, I should post a picture...

Marybel

PS Grunge = Pledge