Raphaël's first restoration project involved this Louis XV period slant-front secretary veneered in rosewood. A complete restoration with many veneer grafts and a waxed, filled finish.
It's a delicate job because rosewood is unforgiving. The slightest misstep with the chisel, or excessive sanding, and its beautiful blond patina disappears, revealing the original dark color and causing unsightly stains. So there's no choice but to scrape and sand the newly sawn veneer and cut it to the correct thickness before gluing it with hot glue.
