Furniture Restorer and Cabinet Maker, Cornwall & Devon
My trade is antique furniture restoration and antique furniture sales. I aim to revive tired, unloved old antique furniture and restore it to its former glory. I have always thought that wood has a timeless beauty and warmth to the touch. I purchase antique furniture locally in Devon and Cornwall which is in need of restoration.
Restored antique furniture will inevitably outlast modern, mass produced furniture made with unsustainable foreign hard woods and veneered man made-particle board. Most of my furniture has already given at least 120 years of service before I reward it with another lease of life. When placed alongside a modern day, mass produced machine made version (a product leaving a high carbon footprint in manufacture and in it's inevitable disposal), the craftmanship and rich patina of the genuine article is reassuringly revealed.
With over 20 years experience as a cabinet maker and antique furniture restorer,and with a workshop in the Tamar Valley, I can offer a furniture restoration and french polishing service that covers both Devon and Cornwall (further afield on occasions).
All the furniture I sell is restored to a very high standard, not just in appearance, but with latches and locks that work, doors that open and shut without catching or rubbing, and drawers that do not drop or stop, but run smoothly.
Any damaged woodwork or veneer is either repaired or replaced, by the restorer, using old antique reclaimed timbers and veneers. Furniture that has had fungal attack or infestation is treated before being restored.All reclaimed timber is sourced locally in Devon and Cornwall. Desk leathers are replaced if irreparable, with new tooled skiver (sheep skin) or in some cases, cow hide.
After repairs are completed the piece is cleaned and revived. A piece in very poor condition will have the old finish totally removed before repair work is started, and then refinished by French polishing, Shellac sealing and wax, oiling, waxing, and occasionally a modern hardwearing finish depending on timber type and furniture.
Michael de Lavis-Trafford, Furniture Restorer and Cabinet Maker, Cornwall & Devon
© 2009 Michael de Lavis-Trafford
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