„Tales of Veneers and Woodworm‟
Wall Street Journal, | Ellen Thalman
But the Thing is, some restorers might prefer to leave the crack in. The word most restorers uttered first when we asked what they look for in wooden antiques was „patina“ - the catch-all term for the things that accumulate over theyears to give a piece its charakcter and its historical value. Scratches and cracks can contribute to patina as much as a hand-carved design, and removing them can harm the piece´s value.
„Age and use-related changes show history“ says Barbara Naumburg. „I wouldn´t necessarily get rid of a crack- it´s an aesthetic decision.„
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Ms. Naumburg says you have to keep some flaws when conxerving a piece. „The surface ist like a calling card to me,“ she says. „If it looks too perfec, then I wonder why.“
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„Water rings I would remove, but other evidence of usage should be left intact to preserve the character, charisma and warmth of a piece.“ Coffee-cup rings, for example, can sometin´mes be removed easily at home, simply by polishing with wax, though Ms. Naumburg warns against using anything else at home. Some chemicals on the market can alter the wood´s color or remove the finish.
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„Ideally, the temperature at home shouldn´t exceed 20 or21 degrees. While the relative humidity should be 50%-60% or more- which, by the way, are also ideal conditions for humans“ Ms. Naumburg says. Restorers can repair gaping cracks by adding strips of veneer to the spaces. Historically original materials should always be used for repairs and replacements, rather than new wood or modern glues from the local do-it-yourself market. Ms. Naumburg uses wood from other antiques to create replacement parts.
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Ms. Naumburg says nails should never be hammered into the corners of the frame to keep the chair together. Instead, the chair should be completely taken apart, legs or broken pieces replaced and then re-glued.