French polishing in Perthshire

Traditional French polishing and modern furniture finishing, for tables, cabinets and the smaller pieces in between.

A good polish is what makes a dining table glow under the lights. Craig can bring an old one back, or finish a new piece to last.

Long polished plank-top extending dining table with shield-back chairs in a dining room with wall lights and a chandelier
A long plank-top extending dining table, polished, with its shield-back chairs.
Round table with a sunburst-matched figured veneer top and an inlaid fan patera in the centre, freshly polished
A round table with a sunburst-matched veneer top and an inlaid fan patera, freshly polished.

What French polishing is

French polishing is shellac, built up by hand in many thin coats with a rubber: a pad of wadding wrapped in cloth.

It gives the deep, clear shine you see on a good table, and it lets the figure of the veneer come through, like the sunburst top here.

Craig also does modern finishes, so a piece can be finished for how it will be used.

Polished in the workshop

Gallery tray with a strongly figured veneer base, polished, on the workbench
A gallery tray with a strongly figured veneer base, polished, on the bench.
Cabinet on stand with figured veneer doors, crossbanding, brass handles and cabriole legs, after polishing
A cabinet on stand with figured veneer doors, crossbanding and cabriole legs, after polishing.
Top of a round occasional table with a small inlaid fan patera, boxwood stringing and richly figured veneer
Boxwood stringing and a small fan patera on an occasional table top.
French polishing work in progress: jars of polish, rubbers, a scraper and a small round mirror frame on the bench
Work in progress: jars of polish, rubbers, a scraper and a small round mirror frame.

A dining table, polished where it lives

Twin pedestal D-end dining table in the client's dining room on dust sheets, before restoration
Before
Restored D-end extending dining table with ladder-back chairs in a damask-papered dining room beside a marble fireplace
After

The D-end dining table

A twin pedestal D-end table, photographed on dust sheets in its own dining room before the work began.

After: the long top polished to a deep, even shine, with the ladder-back chairs back round it by the marble fireplace.

He restored the table and chairs to beyond my expectations.

Review on Yell. About a water-marked table and chairs.

Is your table looking tired?

Text Craig a photo of the whole top, and one close up where the marks are worst.

Text a photoCall Craig