Here is the latest restoration by Raphaël, my apprentice. It is a period commode with a jump-shaped top. Louis XV. It is also veneered with rosewood and violet wood, on a frame of oak and softwood.
State of affairs report
It was an ideal project for tackling the restoration of the structure and veneer. Indeed, almost all the panels were detached and too short. Furthermore, the joints were loose. In addition, both sides had separated from the uprights and were split down the middle. Finally, of course, there were numerous areas where the veneer was peeling and missing.
The Restoration
First, Raphaël completely disassembled the chest of drawers. Then he reassembled the entire structure, including the sides. This delicate work was indeed crucial for what followed. Once the frame was restored, he tackled the veneer. All surfaces were vacuum-sealed with a penetrating adhesive. In addition, hot glue was applied to secure the grafts and accessible bell-shaped inlays. On the sides, the panels were reamed so that the repairs would remain hidden in a groove. Finally, the grafts were cut from new veneer that had been sawn, scraped, sanded, and fitted to the correct thickness on the reverse side.
Next, the chest of drawers was reassembled using fish glue and the drawers adjusted. Then Raphaël oxidized the grafts. Finally, he thinned the old varnish and reapplied it with a pad, using a colorless varnish.
