Teaching

Introduction to Antique Furniture Restoration

The one week course that lasts a year

This is an intensive five day course which aims to provide the knowledge base from which a beginner can start to learn the practical and theoretical techniques needed to restore quality antique furniture to a professional standard. It will be delivered at David Savage’s Rowden workshop in Shebbear, North Devon. David Savage runs this centre of excellence, which combines year long and short courses for furniture makers. It is a wonderful place for anyone interested in furniture to spend a week. You will learn much from just being here watching the students and David’s experienced makers producing some of the finest contemporary furniture.

If you are interested follow the link at the bottom to David Savage’s page where the booking details are available. If you want to telephone me to talk about the course please call me on 01769 540 483

The basics

There will be a maximum of three students and you will receive individual and group tuition.
You will have your own bench and we will supply tools.
You are welcome to bring small items of your own to work on but we will provide good quality period furniture to restore.
Next course starting in April
Approximate timings 9am – 5pm with breaks for lunch and refreshments

Practical techniques

Tool Sharpening and maintenance
An introduction to French polishing
Wax finishes
How to clean and revive finishes

Veneer repairs, replacing lost veneer and relaying raised veneer
Splicing in new wood repairs
Introduction to marquetry and parquetry repair

How to dismantle furniture
How to make new joints
Glueing and clamping techniques

Using bleaches
Colouring, blending in and polishing repair work
Wood stains. The different types and uses

As a special project I will show you the correct way to disassemble and rejoint an antique chair

Knowledge Base

Throughout the five days course there will be an on going emphasis on the theoretical knowledge needed to restore quality furniture. We can teach some of the many skills, but it is just as important to learn how and when to apply the different techniques you will be learning. We want you to leave being able to identify the age and purpose of a piece of furniture. You also need to understand how it was made, how it has aged and how it has been previously repaired. Most importantly we will discuss how you approach the restoration process in a manner that is appropriate and respectful of the furniture. In broad terms we will cover the following:

The ethics of Restoration
The difference between Restoration and Conservation

Wood Identification
Furniture History
How furniture is designed and constructed

What exactly is good age, colour and patina on antique furniture
Why furniture breaks
Tools, Equipment and Setting up a Workshop

Five days may not be long enough for a beginner to complete their own restoration project but we aim to equip you with the skill and knowledge to complete projects in your own time. During the five days I will demonstrate a complete restoration to professional standard

Pre-requisites

You do not need any experience for this course and we will supply all necessary tools. Prior to starting the course I will talk to each member of the group and design the five days to suit each person’s needs and skill level. If you have specific techniques you want to learn or improve we will do our best to help you.

Through the years I have had many people come through my workshop to learn and most have gone on to achieve great things. Two people who spent time with me have gone on to be full BAFRA members.

THE ONE WEEK COURSE WHICH LASTS A YEAR

This is an essential component of the course. I can teach you so much in one week and as you see above I have split the course into two essential components, the skills base and the knowledge base. You will then need time and experience to practice and improve these skills and learn and expand your knowledge.

But there is a third component which may be the most important….

I have seen people with the finest skills not succeed because they made the wrong initial decisions about how to approach repairs and restoration. In previous times an apprentice learnt in the presence of experience and would have been able to discuss their work so I aim to develop a new way to maintain this relationship.

Those who complete the week course will have full support from me for their restoration projects for one year. This could involve sending pictures, telephone discussion or skyping. We can then work through alternative approaches to completing a successful job.

I can advise you on

What is practical
How the furniture should look after your work
What interventions are appropriate given the age or the value of a piece
Where to source materials
How to deal with previous restorations
What techniques to use
Answer more general questions

Further training

For those of you who have completed the one week course I will be happy to offer the opportunity for further training in my own workshop. This will provide an opportunity to see how a professional workshop works. You can improve your core skills, tackle more complex repairs and begin to look at other aspects of restoration such as carving, gilding, wood turning, brasswork and ormolu and lock repair.

Further information can be found on David Savage's site