Restoration of an English cabinet from the late 17th or early 18th century, veneered in walnut and maple. It features this distinctive marquetry in free arabesque patterns, known as seaweed because it evokes the seaweed on the seabed.
Seaweed marquetry is traditionally associated with Dutch and Flemish cabinetmakers of the second half of the 17th century, particularly Gerrit Jensen. Indeed, in 1689, William III of Orange ascended the English throne with his cabinetmakers. Later, religious persecution on the continent brought others to England. Together, they created a style characteristic of the reign of William and Mary (until 1702), which continued under Queen Anne (1702-1714). The furniture retained the form of the Dutch cabinet. However, its size was reduced to suit the rooms of the time, even if the overall design remained imposing.
Furthermore, here are two sources that present cabinets from the same period, with similar marquetry and bronzes.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/204655
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O299213/cabinet-unknown/#object-details
State of affairs report
This piece of furniture appeared to be in good condition. However, it had several major flaws, especially on the two doors. Their panels had warped, resulting in cracks, peeling, and missing veneer. Daylight was even visible through one of them. On the other hand, the base and frame were sound, apart from a few missing pieces, minor warping, and slight mold.
The Restoration
First, we vacuum-regenerated and rehydrated the panel adhesives. For the missing pieces, scraped, sanded, and cut-to-size veneer was glued to the reverse side using protein-based adhesive. Next, after regenerating the varnish, a new coat of shellac was applied with a pad. Finally, the bronze mounts were cleaned ultrasonically, and the doors were adjusted to close properly.
