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For leather, take a look at the condition it is in. Note the dryness,
dirt/grime, any cracking you see, and any other blemishes it may have.
If the leather piece is dirty, clean it off with a gentle leather soap like
Howards Leather Cleaner, and then condition the newly clean leather
with either Howards Leather Conditioner or Leather Salve. These two
conditioners help add moisture back into the leather, helping to
prevent further drying and cracking of the leather.

When should you not paint a piece but restore it?
Or skip restoration and paint it?

The subject of painting antique
pieces is a highly debated topic in the
antique community, and opinions
on the matter can be subjective. It
can be surprising to witness the
the leather surface prior to using any conditioner. Using a leather cleaner restoration of seemingly irre-
that is made with water and mild soap is recommended. A good leather deemable pieces, which can often be
cleaner will also be pH balanced! Avoid using things like multi-surface transformed back to their original
cleaners, harsh chemicals like bleach (for obvious reasons), baking soda, glory. As for me, I personally would
vinegar, lemon juice, etc. … If the leather is just dusty, you can skip avoid painting an antique that is sal-
the cleaner and just dust it off with a clean soft cloth or duster. vageable and can be restored to its
c. This leather chair was brought back to life using Howard Leather former state. In my opinion, the nat-
Conditioner. In its previous home, it was scratched up by some chil- ural beauty of wood and its unique
dren who used it as their drawing board! grain patterns are difficult to surpass.
d. For follow-up care, you can use the same Howard Leather However, there are certain factors
Conditioner whenever the leather looks or feels dry. If the leather needs to consider before deciding to paint an antique piece. Firstly, you
cleaning, you can use a gentle leather cleaner like Howard Leather should take into account the quality of the item. Does it consist of
Cleaner! exotic woods such as mahogany, tigerwood, padauk, or other similar
high-quality woods? Or is it made of inferior materials that lack the aes-
thetic appeal of the other woods? Secondly, you should evaluate the
current condition of the piece. Is it in perfect condition, or does it
OTHER GENERAL QUESTIONS:

require extensive refinishing due to damage from wear and tear, or even
What is the best thing you can do right after you’ve burn marks?
purchased an antique piece of furniture/silver/ In addition, you should also take into consideration the historical
significance of the piece. Is it of any historical value? Did it belong to
your ancestors, and if so, what is its sentimental value? Has it been
brass/leather?
handed down through generations, with each person making updates
The best thing to do right and changes along the way? These factors can play a significant role in
after you have purchased an determining whether or not to paint an antique piece.
antique piece of silver, brass, There are many more factors to consider when it comes to “To
or leather is to take a good paint, or not to paint?” Ultimately, the decision to paint an antique
look at it, check what state it piece is a personal one and will depend on your own priorities and
is in, and see what it needs values. However, taking the time to consider all the various factors can
immediately to start the help you make an informed decision that will preserve the item’s value
process of restoration. If it and history for generations to come.
doesn’t need any restoration
(congrats!), you can clean off
any dirt and grime it may When making minor repairs, do you recommend
have, apply a protective/ any particular glues, products, or tools to get the
conditioning product (when applicable), and you’re done!
NOTE: For antique metal pieces like copper, bronze, brass, and silver, best result?
depending on the piece the original patina may be extremely important to For minor repairs,
keep intact. For most antique silverware and jewelry polishing back to a such as scratches, water-
shine is all right! marks, heat rings, and
For antique wood furniture, take a good look at the finish. See if it
is in good, okay, or bad condition. If it has scratches, heat rings, water other surface blemishes,
we recommend Howard’s
marks, faded spots, and things like that, Restor-A-Finish can help Restor-A-Finish. This
remedy those issues while keeping the original finish intact! After quick and easy-to-use
Restor-A-Finish (or if the finish was in okay condition and did not have product can save a piece
such severe damage, and was only dry and lightly faded), use a wood from having to be com-
conditioner and polish such as Feed-N-Wax. Feed-N-Wax Wood pletely refinished with an
Polish & Conditioner is ideal for enhancing the natural depth of grain easy wipe-on, wipe-off
while providing added protection and luster to furniture, antiques, and application!
cabinets. Feed-N-Wax helps introduce conditioning oils that “feed” the For repairs such as pieces becoming unglued at the seams, big chips,
wood while providing a protective coating of beeswax and carnauba and even structural pieces coming apart/dowels pulling out, we recom-
wax. This unique blend of beeswax, carnauba wax, orange oil, and other mend using high-quality wood glue. A high-quality PVA glue, used in
beneficial ingredients help preserve and keep the wood from drying out, the correct situations will create a bond stronger than the wood itself!
fading, or even cracking. Feed-N-Wax was developed as the best A good glue we keep on hand to help fix old antiques that are coming
follow-up to Restor-A-Finish for maintaining the newly restored finish. apart is Gorilla Wood Glue.

30 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles