I recently picked a particularly nice c1870 four drawer ladies dresser, with mirror. Pine with excellent grain painting all over, ivy decoration in green on the drawer fronts and decades worth of what looks like nicotine, hands and the general accumulation of everything that falls on wooden surfaces.
Over the paint is a layer of shellac, also original from what I can tell.
Any suggestions on how best to cleanse the surface? I'm not all that familiar with faux painted surfaces of this era and what might harm the finish. I do have a decent book on early painted furniture but for the life of me I can't find it.
Thanks, Gary
Over the paint is a layer of shellac, also original from what I can tell.
Any suggestions on how best to cleanse the surface? I'm not all that familiar with faux painted surfaces of this era and what might harm the finish. I do have a decent book on early painted furniture but for the life of me I can't find it.
Thanks, Gary