Zprávy památkové péče 2022, 82(4):596-602

Transparent finishes on wood furnishings

Zdeněk Holý

NPÚ, ÚPS v Kroměříži

Surface treatment of furniture made of wood was an important part of furniture making and included a wide range of technological processes. Many of these are still used in furniture making today, but others have been forgotten or replaced by more modern processes and materials. The importance of surface treatment was primarily to protect the wooden surfaces of furniture from mechanical wear and tear and weathering. In addition to its utilitarian function, the finish also had an aesthetic function. The present article deals with the historical development of finishes and the various factors that have influenced their use. Last but not least, it provides a classification of historical furniture finishes and explains the different terms. The aim of the article is to draw attention to the importance of original finishes on historic furniture, which carry important information about a given piece of furniture, its date, provenance, technical and aesthetic quality, and the need to preserve them during restoration interventions.

Keywords: surface treatments; lacquers; furniture; arts and crafts; restoration

Published: April 12, 2023  Show citation