Rosewalker Design Project-Nashville Antique Restoration


		Rosewalker Design Project

		Restoration

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Restoration is the keystone of
Rosewalker Design Project.
The disparate skill sets we've acquired
through the years are a result of our
ongoing involvement with many
decorative art techniques.

Technical excellence is a point of pride with us.
Great craftsmanship is one of our core advantages, and
is invaluable in achieving first-class results in
any artistic endeavor.

Restoration of antiques and decorative arts is a
complex area of expertise. The mind maps and storyboards below might serve to illustrate this complexity better than our yakkin'.

Our Philosophy of Restoration:

we use excellent judgment of the task at hand
we always take as conservative approach as is feasible
we communicate with the client to create an environment of trust
we never let them see us sweat
we refinish only if we must
we work within the client's timeframe

	STORYBOARDS
	TASK AT HAND: Restore an American Primitive

Great wheel in need of repair

This is an interesting family history piece. This spinning wheel is from the client's family farm
here in Middle Tennessee. The 200th anniversary of the farm is in July, 2009 and the client wanted
to have the great wheel on hand for the celebration. As you can see here, it was in no condition to celebrate.


So we went to work and did some research. We found many variations of this primitive machine and finally settled on a basic interpretation. First, we repaired the original hub and bent a new wood hoop. We turned four new spokes and the great wheel was complete.	Our research steered us in the direction of a very simple mandrel set-up that could be connected to the great wheel by means of a crude belt. We hand wove the belt from jute twine.

We then gave the whole piece a good cleaning, matched the stain on the new pieces and gave it some coats of paste wax.	We're thinking the great wheel is now ready to celebrate.

TASK AT HAND: Consolidate a painted surface.


The paint on this Italian chest was peeling completely off its substrate. The piece had lived in a difficult climate for about three years. The paint chips hung so tenuously a stiff breeze could have knocked them off. We decided to build a box to transport it in so we could capture any losses.	As you can see here, the situation is quite severe. Many times this condition can be the end game.

In the face of adversity we went to work with Q-tips and artist brushes. These are the weapons of choice on a consolidation job such as this. Because this was casein paint, the main consolidant we used was a simple white glue size.

Many hours later, and we DID count them, we were ready for more coats of glue size and finishing coats of shellac. And then, BABOOM, we had a much happier piece, smiling above.
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TASK AT HAND: Retrofit new leaves to Dining Table

This job was a collaboration of Rosewalker and Eric Magness- "The Furniture Doctor".
Eric's client has this beautiful crotch mahogany veneer table which has 22" left in the top for more leaves.
The problems: 1. Matching the grain which had been carefully book-matched by the manufacturer,
2. Lining up hand made edge moldings and veneer bandings on the faces,
3. Matching the new finish to the existing one.
Eric wanted Rosewalker to handle the veneering while he would match the finish.

Retrofitted veneer table leaves

It was decided that we'd make two leaves half the size of the original leaves. This would give the
new leaves a better balance when fitted up in the table as a whole. Here you see the two new leaves
sandwiching the original one.

Detail of retrofitted veneer table leaf

We managed to find a crotch mahogany veneer that bore an uncanny resemblance to the existing pattern.
That was a very fortunate turn. Photo above shows part of the book-match required and the veneer banding at left.

Retrofitted veneer table leaves

Here you see the matched up leaves. Eric has the finish in progress now, as of 5/2009.
As of Dec. 2, 2009, Eric says this job is done and he's sending his finished photos.
Hopefully, we'll get some finished shots, maybe even installed in the table top.
Stay tuned!

TASK AT HAND: Restore a folk artifact.


This wood sculpture is approximately 18"W x 14"H x 4"D. The horse's ears had broken off, and the paint on the socks, hooves, and blaze had chipped off and needed to be in-painted. In the picture at left, you see the first block had been glued on for a new ear.	Here you see both replacement blocks had been carved into new ears. It was at this point we began to get some answers to some questions, now that he could hear again.
The Story of American Ace Once we carved him new ears, the horse was eager to answer our questions. He said his name was American Ace and that he had been a champion. Earlier in the 20th Century, full-size likenesses of him and his companion stood proudly at the entrance of Maryland Farms in Brentwood, Tennessee. These artifacts now reside with the client's family.
American Ace's companion piece is shown at left. One of his distinguishing features is the manner in which his ears swept up and forward - it was important to our client that this posture be duplicated as closely as possible.
At right you can see American Ace in his finished state. We carved his ears in the prescribed fashion, matched the existing color, touched up his socks, hooves, and blaze. Finally, we gave him a coat of shellac to renew the lustre to his coat.

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We make new stories every day - more coming soon!

Respect the past.
	Celebrate the present.
		Create the future.