Refinishing and Restoring Antiques
Refinishing and restoring antiques is an art. It requires a steady hand, keen eye and a sense of preserving the integrity of the antique to be refinished. The main focus of refinishing antiques is to make certain each piece remains true to its age, value and original design. Many pieces of Chippendale furniture were originally carved with intricate designs. In order to preserve the integrity of the original design, refinishing has to be done carefully. A single slip of a brush stroke or misapplication of glazing to the wood veneer could reduce the value of the piece significantly.
Refinishing Porcelain Antiques
The more delicate the antique material is the more care is required. The first step is to insure that all particles of dust and soil are removed. Even this step has to be performed with great care. Paints used for porcelains of certain ages can be unwittingly removed with too much pressure when cleaning and preparing it for refinishing. This is most evident with the faces of porcelain or china dolls. Always use the lightest possible pressure to avoid accidentally erasing paints.
Take Note of Special Markings
Most antiques are easily identified by the signatures of their originators. 
Often there are unusual markings that may not necessarily appear to be more than a tiny flaw in the creation of the piece. Do a thorough search of the piece before attempting to refinish. Most antique dealers are willing to look over the piece before restoration. For the most intricate or delicate antiques to refinish, antique professionals may be willing to refinish the piece for a reasonable cost.
Handle With Special Care
One of the major difficulties dealing with antiques is handling. Due to age or the types of construction and materials, always begin with white cotton gloves. Remember that human hands contain oils and that can have an adverse effect on antiques. This is especially true with books and old documents. A single fingerprint can leave an oil mark that will affect the book or document. Light is another factor. Too much sunlight or conversely, too much darkness can also have an effect on the quality of the pieces. Too much sunlight has a bleaching effect while too much darkness can encourage molds and mildew. This is the reason to always insure that antiques when in storage areas or display cases are kept free from dust and should be covered.
