Care must be taken to protect your furniture from excessive heat and kept out of direct sunlight. Mats or a protective felt or other protective tops are essential on dining table. With tea and coffee pots and casseroles etc. make sure by using mats. Protective covers are available from our stock but with casseroles and some very hot dishes play safe with an additional mat.
It is most important not to use silicon polishes on any polished furniture. These include: Mr Sheen and Pledge.
Inevitably some damage will happen with your furniture. Often heat or liquid will produce a white mark on the polish. If you do not wish the expense of repolishing these can be greatly improved by using “Brasso” on the white mark but try a small area first and be sure to wash off the Brasso immediately after application. This sometimes leaves a burnish mark which of course is not desirable but preferable to the unsightly white marks – rubbing very lightly with cigarette ash mixed with little water can have a better effect. Remember to rub with the grain and wash off quickly. If these home remedies fail we will be pleased to quote for sanding and repolishing but this can be very expensive if silicone polishes have been used and repolishing is then often not viable.
Touch up colours are available from our shop but getting a tin of the appropriate stain from your local ironmonger may be better but make sure that they have no adverse effect by trying it on a small out of sight area first.
Antique leather, just like woods, is a natural product and usually has scars and blemishes which are quite normal. The more expensive plain hides have often been processed to remove the scars and blemishes which are more obvious in plain leather – particularly in pastel shades.
Leather furniture should be fed with a hide food or leather mouse at least once a year and more frequently if near sources of heat or strong light (avoid direct sunlight) or in a centrally heated room. Protect your leather from water and spirits etc. as some liquids can take out the colour.
Tiny scuffs on antique leather can be touched up with a black calligraphy pen (this must never be used on plain or light coloured leather). Antique leather desk tops which are looking scuffed or scratched can be greatly improved with Black Booth polish but again not on light coloured leather.
Reproduction furniture represents superb value. Your furniture will be practical, look good in your home and give you much pleasure over a long period of time. It is timeless in appearance and will always be fashionable and should you ever wish to sell it, a second hand market exists.
Ronald T. Barnet
Managing Director