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Category Archives: colouring and polishing
Please, Come In
The entrance halls of some of the great English houses of the affluent could oft be places of unbridled conviviality, or conversely, dens of apprehension, abasement, and even injury. In a time when an Englishman’s home was his castle, uninvited … Continue reading
Posted in 17th and 18th Century Culture, Antiques, colouring and polishing
Tagged brick dust, hall chair
10 Comments
Random Wax of Kindness
Extensive waxing (whilst remaining customarily hirsute) gives me great pleasure for a couple of reasons viz. it means the furniture acquires a glorious glow and the weather must at last be cool. We have indeed had several recent frosty starts … Continue reading
Waxing Lyrical
Winters in Australia aren’t nearly as severe as those back in Ireland and England, but the recent daytime highs of 12°C to 16°C (54°F to 61°F) provide near optimal conditions for waxing furniture. Of course, waxing can be undertaken at … Continue reading
Indian Varnish
In the seventeenth-century, highly fashionable imported goods from the East (such as printed fabrics and lacquered furniture) were often collectively referred to as ‘Indian’, no matter whether they originated in China, India, Japan, Korea etc. ‘Indian’ or ‘India’ varnish is … Continue reading
Posted in colouring and polishing
Tagged coachmaker, Indian varnish, shellac, silver leaf, varnish
4 Comments
Maintaining the Mahogany
Where footmen are kept, the charge of rubbing mahogany furniture devolves on them, otherwise it becomes the care of the housemaid. The chairs and tables should be rubbed well every day; and on the mahogany tables a little cold drawn … Continue reading
Posted in Antiques, colouring and polishing
Tagged bees wax, gum arabic, linseed oil, mahogany
7 Comments
One Man’s Figure…
A man walked into my workshop today, uninvited, unannounced and reeking of stale cigarette smoke. He had apparently heard rumours of the goings-on in my shed and had taken it upon himself to investigate. He walked straight up to a … Continue reading
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