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    Home » Furniture » Saving Antique Furniture From The Paint Brush

    Saving Antique Furniture From The Paint Brush

    This post may contain affiliate links

    Most of the time you find me painting old furniture or even painting antique furniture. Well, today I'm saving antique furniture. 

    dresser before restoring finish

    I bought this antique dresser at a local online auction for $38.50. Pretty good price even though at first glance the dresser looks a mess. My original plan for the dresser was to give it a two layered distressed paint finish. I was thinking maybe off-white with a hint of green for the bottom layer of paint.

    Saving Antique Furniture From Paint Makeovers

    I'm glad I didn't follow through with the paint plan. It would have been sad to cover up this beautiful original stained finish. I didn't return the dresser to it's original glory but it looks pretty darn good.

    how to refinish or refresh the finish on antique furniture

    The piece is called a wig dresser and I found photos of similar pieces online and also more information about the type and style of dresser.

    nineteenth century wig dresser

    The piece above is an Antique American Empire Gothic Burled Walnut Wig Dresser with Marble Insert. It is very similar to the piece I bought except the cared details on the dresser and body are a bit different.

    The piece I bought at auction was just the lower dresser part without the ornate mirror. It did have a few broken pieces from the mirror surround but not enough to work with. The cabinets on the sides contain shelves and that's where the wigs were stored. 

    marble top on an antique wig dresser

     

    The top of the dresser had a marble insert on the front area with a piece of the beautiful burled walnut covering the back area.

    vacuum cobwebs and dust from antique furniture

    While I was cleaning and prepping the dresser for paint I was admiring the pretty walnut wood and the carved details. I also noticed that the original finish had very little chipping, veneer peeling, or stains of any kind. That's what got me thinking about just refreshing the original stained finish.

    spider eggs and cob webs on old furniture

    But first it definitely needed a good cleaning. The photo above is a look at the bottom with split wood, dust, lint, and spider eggs....ugh!

    real wood antique furniture

     

    The solid wood backside of the dresser was in great shape too. It just needed cleaning up too.

    how to clean antique furnitureThis is a look at the inside body where I removed the drawers, all solid wood. The dresser is very heavy.

    After vacuuming and a good cleaning with Simple Green I used regular old spray furniture polish to shine up the inside wood casing.

    clean inside the cabinets of wood furniture

    The cabinets still had the original shelves and the wood inside the cabinets just needed cleaning and shining up.

    missing veneer on wood furniture

    There was some missing veneer and you notice on the top of the rectangular detailed foot area that part of the scrollwork is missing. I found that piece later and nailed it back in place.

    Minwax stain marker covers scratches on old furniture

    A Minwax stain marker took care of the missing piece of veneer.

    use Gorilla glue to repair veneer on furniture

    While using the stain marker another piece of veneer popped off. I just stuck it back on with a bit of Gorilla Glue.

    how to refresh the furniture finish on antique dresser using Howards feed n wax

    Once the vacuuming and clean up was finished I used Howard's Feed n Wax to renew the stained finish. For all of those detailed areas I used a small stencil brush to get the wax into the scrollwork or wood trim. 

    how to use small paint brushes to clean furniture details

    A regular paint brush would work too. The stencil brush was the first thing I grabbed.

    wood stained finish cleaned with Howards Feed n Wax

    The photo above is a revelation. The drawer on the right has been polished with the Howard's Feed n Wax and the one on the left is still sad looking after a simple cleaning. An amazing difference right??

    original wood knobs

    When I opened the small boxes on the top of the dresser I found the other knobs. What a great thing to have. The two drawers have the original knobs all shined up and back in place.

    waxed and refreshed walnut Empire style antqiue furniture

    Both of the drawer fronts were in fantastic shape. Even the wood trim was intact. The knobs are very distinctive. I have a lot of wood knobs in my reclaimed knob and drawer pull stash but none like these.IMG_3843

    On both cabinet doors the wood was split vertically right in the middle of the inside wood trim detail. Yes, it's noticeable but I don't think it takes away from the beauty of the piece.

    save antqiue furniture from being painted

    I'm on the hunt for a marble top to replace the original. 

    missing marble top

    I didn't even realize the original wig dresser had a marble top until I found the photo of a similar dresser online. I just thought the veneer on the top had been pulled off.

    ornate details on antique wood dresser
    I found part of the missing trim around the detailed wood piece in one of the drawers but not all of it. I cleaned that piece up and nailed it back in place.

    I mentioned having several pieces from the original mirror and side wig cabinets and those have the identical trim. I could cut a replacement piece but not wanting to get into that right now. 

    walnut wood antqiue Empire style dresser

    Really, the wood is too beautiful. So glad I didn't paint over it. It's hard to believe this piece could be 150 years old give or take a few years. They sure knew how to make furniture back then.

    Saving Antique Furniture From The Paint Brush

    What do you guys think? Glad I didn't paint the dresser? Have you ever seen a similar piece. 

    I have another antique that was cleaned up and refreshed and saved from the paint brush.

    antique furniture to clean and refurbish

    I cleaned and refreshed the chest of drawers a client inherited from the grandmother. You can see how great it turned out here.

    how to clean antique furniture
    Products used in this post and some other favorites...

     


    If you have time leave a note before you run off. Thanks for being here, Kathy

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sue Uustalu

      December 03, 2022 at 11:19 pm

      You can have a marble piece made from a scrap at a place that has stone counter tops. It turned out beautiful.

      Reply
    2. mary scott

      February 20, 2021 at 9:28 pm

      2 gorgeous wood pieces!

      Reply
    3. ROSE LEFEBVRE

      February 18, 2021 at 4:38 pm

      Lovely piece! A job well done!

      Reply
    4. Mickie

      February 16, 2021 at 10:51 am

      How beautiful is this dresser. Love, love this. Thankyou for restoring it, you did an amazing job.
      So enjoy your sight, very informative and full of such great stuff. Loved the info about the flee market in Tennessee. I live in Windsor on Canada and hope to take a trip to the glee market in the summer.
      Thanks again.

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:31 pm

        Thank you Mickie!

    5. Janina

      February 16, 2021 at 10:19 am

      The detail and wood grain are beautiful on your wig dresser. Glad you didn’t paint it.where the marble goes on top looks to be smaller than a sink cutout.l wonder if a place that does countertops could find a small piece reasonably for you.Also many years ago my dad had marble tops cut for a couple of dressers from a place that cut headstones and grave markers. Still beautiful even without. Your work is great!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:32 pm

        Thanks Janina. I'm on the lookout for a piece of marble for the top!

    6. Kathy Leitch

      February 16, 2021 at 9:26 am

      Where did you find the feed and wax? After seeing this piece, I may go this route instead of painting a dresser I have.

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:34 pm

        I get it on Amazon. Click here...Howard's Feed n Wax

    7. Jude Livingston

      February 16, 2021 at 3:13 am

      Best decision not to paint this dresser; it is truly beautiful to see the wood grain

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:37 pm

        Thank you!

    8. Jane C Hayward

      February 15, 2021 at 10:55 pm

      So glad to see that you decided to restore it - it is really beautiful!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:37 pm

        Thank you!

    9. Alice Hanson

      February 15, 2021 at 1:32 pm

      Kathy,
      That was the smartest choice not to paint. You did such a beautiful job! I think it’s a real keeper!
      Smiles, alice

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:38 pm

        Thank you! I love it.

    10. Gail

      February 15, 2021 at 12:04 pm

      To paint or not to paint is always the question. You let that piece of furniture tell you what it wanted and what a fabulous job! Chipped veneer always throws me into thinking I need to fill and then of course paint becomes the option, but this showed me another way! Thank you Do!!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:38 pm

        Great! Glad you could use one of my tips.

    11. Marti Steele

      February 15, 2021 at 11:09 am

      You did a wonderful job and I'm so glad you didn't paint it. I really love this unique piece.

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:38 pm

        Thank you!

    12. MARGIE BRAMER

      February 15, 2021 at 10:54 am

      I have a serpintine dresser I got off the curb... The more white paint I strip off... The more I want to keep from putting paint on it!!
      It is a beautiful piece... You did a great job!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:39 pm

        Thank you!

    13. Bev W

      February 15, 2021 at 9:37 am

      Oh kathy thank you for leaving this piece alone. So many jump on the paint band wagon and dont realize the rarity of certain woods! The cut/precision has to be just right. I have a 100yr old buffet I was going to paint-so many beautiful ideas! But the wood....I just cant do it.love what you did- er, didnt do!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:40 pm

        Yes, probably better not to paint that buffet but in the end it's your decision!

    14. Susan

      February 15, 2021 at 8:57 am

      Hi Kathy!
      Great job on the wig dresser! I'm wondering if it is older than you think...perhaps dating to when men also wore wigs? Why else would a piece of furniture be made and dedicated to such a specific purpose?
      Frequently antique wood gets dried out if it hasn't been nourished over the course of time. FYI, coconut oil is a thin natural oil that can bring old wood back to life. Also help oil and of course linseed oil.

      Reply
      • Bev W

        February 15, 2021 at 9:41 am

        I was a maid to put myself through college. The woman I worked for only used lemon oil. The furniture was just lovely! But took all week to get the smell out of my hands

      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:39 pm

        I bet!

      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:40 pm

        ah, I'll have to try coconut oil. It could be older. That was my first thought too.

    15. Rebecca - Knoxville, TN

      February 15, 2021 at 8:16 am

      "Imperfection is Beauty" - Marilyn Monroe. Glad it wasn't painted, the wood grain is divine. The cracks and chips add character.

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:41 pm

        Thank you!

    16. Linda Dupuis

      February 15, 2021 at 7:59 am

      Great job on both refinishing and repairing all at the same time. Looks really great. I use to refinish all my pieces but now I paint quite a few. Depends where & how I want to use them.

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:42 pm

        Yes!

    17. Suzee B

      February 15, 2021 at 7:50 am

      What a lovely piece, now restored to its past beauty. You made the right choice, as usual!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:42 pm

        Thank you!

    18. Stormee H

      February 15, 2021 at 7:29 am

      Beautiful job saving this wig dresser. I am SO glad you chose to go the restoration route instead of painting it!!!! It makes my heart happy to see this. Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Connie Williams

        February 15, 2021 at 8:11 am

        Yes. Too many old pieces are being RUINED by paint. I have a side board that is similar in wood and marble. I hope to get it cleaned and polished. NOT PAINTED.

      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:41 pm

        Good for you!

      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:42 pm

        Thank you!

    19. Terri

      February 15, 2021 at 7:14 am

      Thank you for not painting this beautiful piece!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:43 pm

        Thank you!

    20. Ellen Lehrter

      February 15, 2021 at 6:47 am

      Beautifully done. I'm so glad you didn't paint it and obscure the burled wood.

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:43 pm

        Thank you!

    21. STEPHANIE MUDD CARRICO

      February 15, 2021 at 6:45 am

      The wig dresser is amazing and the other is equally lovely. Sometimes painting is the best solution but these beauties just needed a little TLC.

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:43 pm

        Yes, so right!

    22. Vicki Fitzgerald

      February 15, 2021 at 5:45 am

      Absolutely Gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:44 pm

        Thank you!

    23. Megan H

      February 15, 2021 at 5:23 am

      LOVE this. Thank you!!!!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        February 16, 2021 at 4:44 pm

        Thank you!

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    Hi, I'm Kathy!

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