Transitional dresser

Here is a very simple commode from eastern France, probably dating from the late 18th century. The front is slightly curved, and the uprights are chamfered. It should be noted that the bronze mounts are probably not original. The frame is made of solid softwood, and the uprights are oak. The drawer bottoms are set in rebates and slide on the drawer fronts, which is typical of provincial work. A unique feature: this commode has no top panels; the marble slab rests directly on the commode. The veneer is plum and Brazilian rosewood. The stringing is hornbeam and lake oak.

The Lacustrine oak, or “bog oak,” comes from fossilized oak trees that remained submerged for centuries in peat bogs after being uprooted by storms or floods. Its dark color is due to its prolonged immersion in the ferruginous water of the peat bogs.

The frame of this chest of drawers has been glued back together with vinyl glue. So there's no problem with the strength of the joints, but if you ever need to take this chest of drawers apart, be careful of the damage. A shame.

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The Restoration Re-gluing of the side panels after adjusting the various stress points that could cause further detachment due to panel shrinkage. Reaming of the drawer bottoms. Rehydration of the glues by infiltration (under vacuum for the drawers). Re-gluing of the veneer on the beveled edges with hot glue. Grafting of rosewood and plum veneer, scraped, sanded, oxidized, and cut to the correct thickness, then glued with hot glue.

The chest of drawers was then stripped using an environmentally friendly, pH-neutral, water-free stripper. Finally, a traditional wax refill was applied using a pad to replicate the finish that was most likely applied at the time. The bronze mounts were degreased and cleaned with Panama wood.

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To see previous restorations : https://ebenisterie-mathieuvath.fr/en-ce-moment-a-latelier/