Expert: Anderson's Restorations-Rob Anderson - 6/15/2008

Question
Hi,

My Mom passed away recently and left, among other items, two identical wicker peices. They are larger than chairs, smaller than loveseats, but resemble settees in their styling, with solid wicker surrounding the seats, arms and backs,and all curving over, ending in scrolls at the back, and at the arms, and with legs that have curving downward and then around, false wicker fronts.   One of them has a broken leg, both have a lot of white paint on them. The other has a puncture at the top of an arm. The repair person here, who is the local expert, estimates they are over 100 years old,they are victorian, and says he has not seen anything that old in years. I do not know where Grandma got them, but her grandpa collected cast-offs after the Civil War, she could have inherited them, she may have just picked them up from trading furniture around with friends, which she liked to do, or they might have just come with a brownstone she bought, which had a sunroom.

When I first saw them, as a child, they were in my Grandma's house, in her sunroom, they were white with red velvet cushions. Even then, I was bowled over by them.

However, they look to be in need of help, and the white colors does not match any room I have. The wicker guy offers to strip them, clean them thoroughly and can apply a more natural looking wicker color.  I would love to have all that done, even if it is quite expensive, but I wish I know if that is the proper thing to do.

Hopefully you can give me some guidance.

Thanks,

Treena Rinaldi

Answer
Thanks for your question,
 Once an original piece has been painted, it has already lost some of its value as original so if you have this work done, your on the right track to have them look as good as they can.
 You don't say how much paint is on them. If your repair person thinks they can remove the paint and bring them back to a more natural color, that would be great.If they are going to repaint, make sure you understand what will be done with any paint left after stripping, ie: sand smooth so the new finish will be smooth or just leave it and paint over. I would ask to see picture of some like items they have done this to so you will have a pretty good idea of what your going to pick-up when compleated.Discuss what type of finish they will use and be sure they know where you plan to use the items and when it come to repairs, are they going to fix everything or just the major issue like the hole. Are they going to replace the broken leg or repair it and how will that be done?
 This could turn into a book but just ask questions, look at pictures if possible and give the restorer time to work their magic and get the details in writing so both of you will remember what was decided what would be done.
 Good luck with your project.
 Rob
www.andersonsrestorations.com