Hall table project.
Table needs refurbish/finish?
by
User
+11
I need advice on how to redo this gorgeous table. Should I strip all of it and leave it plain? should I attempt to preserve its original state? I'm thinking about getting rid of those front faces one is semi complete the other is missing the whole front of the face. I appreciate all the advise/ help I can get. Thank you.
Run, do not walk to an antique dealer to get advice. Valuable antiques can be ruined by an incorrect restoration. It is a beautiful table.
If that was an expensive antique, I would try to restore it to it's original beauty. It looks to be one of a kind. It would be a shame to chalk paint it as is done with so much today.
How you do this depends on where it is going and what your decor style is. If it is formal, I would either finish it in a gold leaf finish. If your style is more modern or refined, I would try to remove some of the filigree and paint it a more simple and neutral color. Another way to do this is by carefully selecting the items on top of the console --- if you paint it a neutral (less obvious) color, you can focus on what's on top --- make the items the focal point.
Agree with Joye and Sal that you should not try to change it by "redoing it" as you may be distroying its true value. Restore it, yes. Redo it, no.
If there is a museum in your area, I would suggest that you contact them and speak with a curator. They should be able to assist you, or refer you on to a professional who can further advise you.
Understand your reluctance to spend big bucks for "restoration". But why not get table appraised by museum, sell it, and buy a new (and no doubt upgraded!) table for your new entryway. The one you have appears to be genuine antique and could be worth a chunk of change "as is"!
Black/marble sounds perfect for this piece
......would live to see it finished!
Still, you could take a picture to an antique store just for advice. Advice should be free. Good luck.
I Personally would remove the faces, and strip it down. At homedepot there is a stripper for antique furniture. It's very gentle but don't use any scrubbing tools to remove the old finish. That will damage the old beauty and deatails on the table. Then the refinishing is your preference. Natural is beautiful and stains, I wouldnt myself paint it.
You're welcome. It doesn't cost anything to ask questions on Hometalk.
This is a museum piece! Please leave it alone! Restoring it could make the value of it from 3,000(average ranged guess) to like 200... right now it tells the story of everything it's been through, it's beautiful! Putting paint on it would be like painting over a picture, it just doesn't make sense