Restoration Methods — Furniture, Clock & Upholstery Repair

Discipline I

Furniture Refinishing & Structural Repair

Craftsman hand-sanding an antique table surface

Detail of restored walnut grain after refinishing

Furniture is the backbone of our workshop. Whether you've inherited a Federal-period sideboard or a mid-century Danish teak credenza, our approach begins with an understanding of the wood itself — its species, age, grain pattern, and how it has responded to decades (or centuries) of environmental stress.

What We Address

Structural failures: Loose or broken joints, split panels, warped table tops, and cracked legs are stabilized using period-appropriate joinery methods. We never use modern metal fasteners on antique pieces unless they were part of the original construction.
Surface damage: Water rings, heat marks, deep scratches, and cigarette burns are treated through a layered process of careful sanding (by hand, never with power tools on delicate surfaces), staining with custom-mixed pigments, and finishing with French polish or hand-rubbed tung oil.
Veneer restoration: Lifting, bubbling, or missing veneer is re-laid using hide glue and clamped under controlled pressure for seventy-two hours to ensure a lasting bond.
Missing hardware: We maintain an extensive inventory of period-correct brass, iron, and porcelain hardware. When an exact match is unavailable, we commission custom reproductions from heritage foundries.

Our Finishing Philosophy

A finish should enhance wood — not conceal it. We favor shellac-based French polish for pre-1900 pieces and hand-rubbed oil finishes for Arts and Crafts and mid-century modern items. Polyurethane and lacquer spray are never used in our workshop; they create a plastic-like surface film that is historically inaccurate and, over time, can yellow or peel.

Discipline II

Horology — Clock & Timepiece Repair

Clockmaker examining a movement under magnification

A clock is a mechanical poem — hundreds of components working in concert to measure time with astonishing precision. Our horological division treats every timepiece with the reverence it deserves, whether it's a humble mantle clock or a museum-caliber astronomical regulator.

Services We Provide

Complete movement overhaul: We disassemble, clean in an ultrasonic bath, inspect under magnification, and reassemble every component. Worn pivot holes are re-bushed using brass bushings turned on a watchmaker's lathe.
Escapement repair: The escapement governs a clock's accuracy. We rebuild anchor, deadbeat, and verge escapements, re-polishing pallets and replacing worn escape wheels when necessary.
Dial and case restoration: Painted dials are carefully retouched by hand. Brass dials are polished and re-lacquered. Wooden cases receive the same standard of refinishing as our furniture division.
Chime and strike train work: We tune hammer alignment, replace worn count wheels, and recalibrate strike sequences to ensure your clock chimes correctly on the quarter hour.

What Sets Our Horologists Apart

David Moreau, our lead horologist, is one of only 340 Certified Master Watchmaker-Clockmakers in the United States, as recognized by the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute. His team combines traditional bench skills with modern diagnostic tools — including laser timekeeping analyzers — to achieve timing accuracy within two seconds per day on most antique movements.

Discipline III

Upholstery Preservation & Replication

Close-up of hand-stitched antique upholstery fabric

Modern upholstery relies on staple guns, foam padding, and synthetic fabrics. Antique upholstery is an entirely different discipline — one that requires hand-stitching, natural fibers, and a deep understanding of period construction methods.

Our Upholstery Process

Stripping and documentation: Every layer is photographed and catalogued as it is removed. This documentation guides the reassembly process and ensures nothing is lost.
Webbing and spring work: We use jute webbing and hand-tied eight-way coil springs, replicating the original support system. We never substitute with sinuous (zigzag) springs, which were not used before the mid-twentieth century.
Padding: Curled horsehair, cotton batting, and natural fiber fillings are used as they would have been in the original construction. Synthetic foam is not used on pre-1950 pieces.
Fabric selection: We maintain relationships with heritage textile mills in the United States and Europe. When a client requests a specific period fabric, we can source jacquard-woven silks, hand-blocked linens, and tapestry-weave cottons that are visually and texturally authentic.
Finishing: Gimp, brass tack lines, and decorative welting are applied by hand using the same techniques used by nineteenth-century upholsterers.

Discuss Your Piece With Our Team

Not Sure Which Service You Need?

Send us a few photographs and a brief description, and our team will provide a preliminary assessment and recommendation within two business days — at no cost and with no obligation.

Request a Free Appraisal

Restoration Methods Built on Centuries of Knowledge