This antique curio cabinet was damaged from impact from a collapsed wall. The glass panel in the right door was broken, and the veneer on the wooden cabinet was abraded from contact with moisture and debris. The broken antique glass panel had the desirable waviness and distortion that is typical of glass in the late 1700s-early 1900s.
The curio cabinet was a prized family heirloom, and one of the client’s favorite elements was the character of the rippled and waviness of the glass panel. During the treatment, we wanted to ensure that the replacement glass panel matched the remaining antique glass panel in the left door. Contemporary glass is even in plane and does not have the distortion as antique glass. A new glass panel just simply wouldn’t do!
With the antique glass that our studio has in stock, the panel thickness, tonality and distortion within the compromised panel was compared with other antique panels to find a great match.
The cabinet was surface cleaned to remove the soiling and debris. The veneer was stabilized. Losses within the veneer were infilled and retouched. Applications of wax were applied and then hand buffed to unify the surface sheen. The antique glass panel was hand cut and installed within the right door frame.
The restored cabinet is back on display in the owner’s home, displayed cherished heirlooms that it protected during the wall collapse.
If you have an antique in need of treatment, or a furniture item of frame that has broken glass that needs replacement, contact us at [email protected].
