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SYNOPSIS

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Atelier Bence

 Restoration Spécialist  Marquetry  -  Veneer    

Country  Furniture

French  Polish

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The lay down veneer technique

                                                                The most challenging restoration work is on veneered pieces. If the condition is bad enough, we do proceed in removing of the entire marquetry: Most of the time, veneer and marquetry are glued on solid pieces of wood ( 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the picture) joined together, “L’âme”(literally the soul, actually the solid wood structural part ).

Door with veneer removed

                                                                              Influenced by moisture and temperature variations as well as the wood cells aging process, these different pieces might shrink, causing the panels to separate from each other or simply crack. This” soul “ movement usually tears down the veneer or marquetry.

 By gluing a veil on the top of the veneer, the different pieces of veneer are first kept together. The glue used centuries ago was based on animal proteins (likewise the preparation of old paintings). These glue are sensitive to temperature and humidity. By carefully heating the upper surface of the veneer, the glue heats, becomes flexible and melts. A blade is then pushed between the veneer and the solid “âme “ and is able to separate the marquetry from it support. The old glue is then removed from both the “âme” and the veneer.

Wedding veil glued on the veneer surface

The structural (solid wood part)

                                                                    It is now time to proceed to the restoration of the solid wood part by gluing the panels back together and if necessary, completing missing parts with additional pieces of wood.

Veneer work

                                                                       The veneer restoration is completed on its back part in order not to disturb the wedding veil’s presence. Missing parts are replaced and pieces are brought back together.

Veneers backward view

                                                                             The last restoration’s step is to glue back the veneer on its original support.

The glue (usually hot reversible fish glue) is applied on the support and the veneer part laid over it and maintained with tape or tiny special for veneer nails. The glue then cools down and slightly hardens. In order to get a perfectly flat result, the gluing process has to be made with hot metal sheets laid down over the veneer, then clamped evenly all over the surface.

 Two days latter, the clamps are removed. Two more days and it is time to start the finish process: A light sanding, a moisturizing process on the veneer before another sanding. Alcohol is then applied on the veneer and a light sanding, like a buffing job to get a perfectly prepared surface.

Completed work back on place

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French polish technique

      Four steps:

1-          11) Filling the grain :

                                                                   A pad made out of a woolen square covered with a thin fabric is filled with alcohol. Some pumice stone is evenly spread over the wood’s surface. By moving the pad with a strong circular motion over the surface, the pumice stone fills the grain of the wood while sanding it, while the moisturizing effect of the alcohol raises the grain. From time to time, a light sanding removes the excess of pumice stone that if left would create white marks. This process is repeated until the surface is perfectly polished and buffed.

                                                                                                        2) The varnish :

                                                                   A new pad made as described above is filled with shellac ( prepared out of a mix of 170 Grams  dry chips shellac and alcohol ).The pad is moved in a circular motion on the surface, applying a regular and light pressure. By continuing to work regularly, the shellac progressively covers the wood.

                                                                                                       3) “Tirer le vernis” literally, “pulling the varnish”

                                                                  With a new pad lightly filled with alcohol, a few drops of shellac and a zip of oil, the finish is completed with the same kind of motion.

3-                                           4) “ L’eclaircissage” (the final touch)

 A last pad with few drops of alcohol is worked upon the finish, to clear up any impurities, remove the oil and perfect the look of the finish until shining like a mirror. Each of this steps are performed one after another, with interruption between each and additional work if necessary before going to the next step.

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atelierbence@wanadoo.fr

Copyright © 2006. Patrick Bence. All rights reserved.