After several hours of cutting, gluing, re-gluing, and cleaning the surfaces, we've finally reached the finishing stage. I chose to varnish this cartel with a French polish. This finish enhances the marquetry, protects it, and, like all my work, is easily reversible.
I always use a clear shellac varnish, on wood as well as other materials. The varnishing process is difficult to explain: only hours and hours of practice allow one to acquire all the secrets of this traditional technique.
Once the cartel is varnished, all that remains is to reassemble the bronzes, cleaned with Panama wood.
Each bronze piece is returned to its place and restores all its brilliance to the cartel, which can now be returned to its owner.
