Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

312 Conservation of Furniture
Figure 7.17 Compound warp of approximately 90 mm
(3 1 ⁄2 in) in a door from a piece of early twentiethcentury
furniture
commonly found to have warped. Depending
on the grain patterns involved this may be a
simple convex warp or a compound twist, as
shown in Figure 7.17.
The larger flat or gently curved surfaces of
carcases are ideal grounds for the execution
of decorative marquetry designs in rare and
exotic veneers. Decorative timbers unavailable
in large sizes, or unsuitable by virtue of grain
patterns for use in solid form, have been
employed to dazzling effect, especially in
continental furniture. Veneer in general, by
virtue of its thinness and often wildly variable
grain, may give rise to problems which are
compounded where many different materials
are found in close juxtaposition. Loose, lifting
and missing veneer provides a substantial part
of the conservation and restoration work
associated with carcase furniture.
Metalwork is a common feature of carcase
furniture, both as fittings and fastenings and in
the form of decorative mounts, beadings and
inlays and these are often found to be loose
or out of alignment. Quality carcase furniture
was probably much less susceptible than
chairs to ill-treatment during its useful lifetime,
often being tucked away against a wall and
much less likely to be subjected routinely to
rigours of movement than other pieces. The
fact that loading is generally less in relation to
construction than with chairs is reflected in a
smaller number of major carcase restorations.
Minor scratches, dents and chips to wood and
surface finishes and dirty or damaged varnish
and staining still occur and regrettably
sometimes while in storage or transit. By virtue
of its size, much furniture of this type which
is either borrowed or loaned for exhibition
purposes has to be assembled and disassembled
for transport. Despite rigorous precautions
and the utmost care in packing and
handling taken to minimize the risk of
accidents, these do regrettably sometimes still
occur and an occasional piece with shattered
glass door, or similar, requires attention. Other
problems with doors include sagging, distortion,
swelling (in which the door appears not
to fit the opening in the carcase), misalignment
of joints, and damage to, or poor alignment
of hinges.
Problems with drawers typically include
worn runners, loose joints, damage to mouldings
and the loosening and splitting of the
bottom. For some people unlocked drawers
have an irresistible fascination. Large doors on
some cabinets will, if opened together to their
full extent, cause the whole piece to over
balance. Some of the work of the museum
conservator is therefore associated with
security. Although ordinarily simple, it can be
taxing to the ingenuity to devise methods of
securing unlockable drawers by an easily
reversible method which is not harmful to the
object. On the rare occasions when an
attempted theft is successful it may be necessary
to replace parts in order to safeguard the
aesthetic integrity of the object.
Tables
Tables range from the most massive early oak
dining tables through delicate inlaid Sheraton
satinwood tea-tables to the chromed-steel and
glass coffee tables and plastic-finished stacking
plywood dining tables of the twentieth