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Restoration can be as simple as light cleaning to remove disfiguring dirt or grime, such as on the surface of a painting, or it may include near complete rebuilding or replacement, as might be the case with old furniture. Often done in preparation for sale, or by a collector upon acquiring a new piece, the main goal of restoration is to “restore” the original appearance or functionality of a piece. There is a lot of difference between
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restoring and repairing. You may achieve functionality with a repair, but restoring an item properly is an art-form. Finishes might/may be stripped and redone, but it is essential that the original patination is retained, if possible. Poor restoration is the bane of a trained restorer. Working on someone else’s bad repair is the worst possible situation. Often with antique restoration, there are also other issues as well. For example, some collectors value “patina”, or also want an item to still reflect an aesthetic that shows its age- in this respect, an “over restored” item can actually take away from its value than if nothing has been done to the item at all. Therefore, restoration should always be left to professionals who are sensitive to all of the issues- insuring that a piece retains or increases its value after restoration.
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