Restoration | Kenta Takeshige

Furniture: Art-Nouveau Side Table by Louis Majorelle

Material: Beech / Veneer: Silky Oak, Rose Wood, Mahogany, Walnut, Clustered Maple

Art Nouveau side table by Louis Majorelle (1859 – 1926), furniture designer from the French Nancy School. There is a signature on the table top. The main body is made of beech. Three organic legs support a shamrock table top, and there is a shelf on the underside of these legs. The background of the table top is made of silky oak veneer. The drawing consists of holly leaves that follow the contours of the table top and surround petals of light. Light emitted from the central circle that resembles the sun.

After removing the old shellac layer, which was throughout damaged, I fixed peeled veneer. The marquetry was carefully sanded and French polishing was applied.

Furniture: Cabinet "Mizuya dansu"

Material: Black Persimmon, Japanese Zelkova, Japanese Cypress, Cedar, Ebony

The body is in straight-grained Hinoki cypress and rare, precious wood is used for the door- and drawer- fronts. Ebony is inserted in the bottom rail, preventing deterioration on behalf of the sliding door. The cabinet is designed to be disassembled without difficulty, I wonder if the maker had future restoration in mind? Anyway, the structure is a good example of fine furniture making.

I reinforced the inside so the top board can carry a heavy load and filled the cracks in each panel with new wood pieces. The parts that were worm-eaten were treated with products, layers beyond repair were removed and replacements were attached in these places. After disassembling the loose frames, I reinforced the tenons to create the tight joints and reassembled again. An additional shelf was made for increase of function. Sunburn and dirt were removed, and the surface was Shiraki finished, this means without any painting.

Furniture: Vintage Cabinet by Cees Braakman

Material: Birch board, Birch plywood, Beech

A vintage cabinet　CB06 (1956, birchwood collection) designed by Cees Braakman, a Dutch designer at Pastoe UMS. The drawers and legs made of bended plywood, are impressive. After removing the old varnish layer, which was throughout damaged, I fixed peeled veneer and broken pieces. I retouched the drawers and doors so that they would move smoothly. By sanding I removed as many scratches as possible and applied new varnish.

Furniture: Tea Cabinet "Cha dansu" from Hiroshima

Material: Japanese Chestnut, Princess Tree, Ebony / Veneer: Japanese Ash in Blister Figure