Antique care and maintenance is important for preserving the items’ financial and intrinsic value as well as their appearance. Whether the antique in a dwelling, commercial building or a museum, the maintenance should always be careful and tailored according to the condition of the antique as well as where it’s being placed.
Antique care and maintenance
But before thinking about maintenance, it’s important first to look at the item’s present condition. Perhaps the colour has faded or there are now a few chips, cracks and scratches. Maybe those visible damages are caused by the long years being left attended inside a dark moist room. It could also be because of poor handling where the antique’s surfaces came into contact with walls, floors and objects.
Whichever is the case, it’s important to have the antique undergo a repair and restoration first. Aside from preventing further damages (e.g. the cracks might have compromised the furniture’s integrity or the colour fading leaves the surfaces unprotected), the repair and restoration will also help bring out the original beauty and elegance of the antique.
After that repair and restoration, the next step is thinking about the handling, use and maintenance. There should be extreme care when moving or handling the item because a part might be removable or detachable (i.e. important to look at the entire furniture first and figure out how it was put together). It’s also important to inspect the path and room first and look for potential trouble. In addition, the temperature and relative humidity levels in the previous room should somehow match where the furniture will be moved. That’s because extreme environmental changes can cause damage to the furniture (wood can quickly expand or contract depending on the surrounding conditions).
When it comes to cleaning and maintenance, it’s also important to first inspect the surfaces first. It’s possible that the coating is already vulnerable and might easily peel off. Cleaning is always harsh because of the physical contact, which is why it should be done carefully (only do the cleaning when there’s a build-up of dirt or wax). Also, the use of too much liquid as well as the residue can cause damage.
Maintaining and preserving furniture (especially antiques) require extreme care. Further, it’s important that damages are repaired first or the item’s surfaces are protected in the first place. Here at Glen Sheldon, we make sure the antiques are handled carefully and the restoration is done according to the highest level of craftsmanship and focus to detail. Contact us today if you want to bring back your antique’s original glory as well as better protect it for years to come.