Tag Archives: shellac

Nice Work! II

Posted on 1st November 2018 by Jack Plane

I don’t often despair of much (and it may just be because I’m in a fair bit of pain at the moment) however, the atrocities inflicted on, and written about this walnut chest of drawers give me little confidence in … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Nice Work | Tagged , | 16 Comments

Indian Varnish

Posted on 21st June 2015 by Jack Plane

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 , , , , | 4 Comments

Suitable Spirit for Varnish-Making

Posted on 21st January 2015 by Jack Plane

When making spirit varnishes for polishing furniture etc., the gums and resins (colophony, sandarac and shellac etc.) are dissolved in ethyl alcohol (ethanol) – or more acceptably, for safety reasons these days – Industrial Methylated Spirit (IMS) or simply, ‘meths’. … Continue reading →

Posted in Staining, colouring and polishing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Ives, Diall’s & Co. Oil and Spirit Varnish Manufactory

Posted on 10th December 2014 by Jack Plane

Before the process of ‘French polishing’ was broadly adopted for finishing woodwork, a great deal of eighteenth-century furniture was simply, but skilfully polished with spirit varnish, laid on with a brush and then flattened. Colophony, copal, mastic, sandarac and shellac … Continue reading →

Posted in Staining, colouring and polishing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Making a ‘Mulberry’ Corner Cabinet – Part Fourteen… and a half

Posted on 5th May 2010 by Jack Plane

“It fits… I’ll take it”!

Posted in Case Furniture | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

A Hepplewhite Sofa

Posted on 19th September 2009 by Jack Plane

I am instructed we need a new sofa – and I have to agree really. The pair of sofas we dragged here from our previous location is typical of much modern commercially made furniture; they suffer a total absence of … Continue reading →

Posted in Seating | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments