Preservation, a Key Element in the Art of Restoration

Isn’t it true that today it seems everything is disposable?  Electronic devices, white goods, furniture, clothes all designed for a very short lifecycle. With fast changing trends & new products we willingly toss out the old and voraciously go for the new. Well, in the world of restoration the opposite is true.

Antique restoration experts such as our long time customer Brett Manley of Manley Antiques take great care to dispose of as little as possible. The master craftsmen of this industry value authenticity and during a restoration go to great lengths to preserve as much of the original as possible.

The pair of cedar knobs in the photo are a perfect example. They belong to an antique chest of drawers dating back to 1842. The bases of the knobs were damaged but otherwise they had stood up well to the wear and tear of the previous 170 odd years. They could be salvaged.

Brett brought them to us together with a select piece of old cedar dating back to 1826 to be used for the repair. The cedar matched the knobs both in age but and in attribute and blended seamlessly with the original. Once polished and refitted this old set of drawers will be just as they were in the nineteenth century.

This is a small noteworthy example of the care and attention to detail that goes into antique restoration. This is a profession where originality, authenticity and longevity are important. Genuine thought and effort go into the restoration process to uphold these values and ensure that things that were built to last live on. 

Brett Manley Antiques
Address: 755 High St, Armadale VIC 3143
Phone:(03) 9500 0699