Is it Okay to Refinish Antiques? Will it Ruin the Value?

The only trade magazine for professional restorers/refinishers was "Finishing & Restoration"(*). Before it went out of publication, the magazine was host to a multi-issue debate regarding the wisdom of refinishing and/or restoring antique and older furniture. A number of professional refinishers and conservators shared their diverse points of view which covered the full spectrum from "refinish everything" to "refinish nothing."

The "refinish nothing" position mirrored the public's widespread belief that refinishing any older piece would greatly reduce its monetary value and should be avoided. As the basis for this position, people would (and still do) cite the experts on the television show "Antiques Roadshow" on PBS. It seems the show has brought about widely accepted understanding that it is unwise to restore/refinish almost any piece of old furniture.

The editor of the magazine, Bob Flexner, contacted the shows' producers and explained the impact it was having on the public's perception concerning restoring/refinishing older and antique furniture. Peter B. Cook, executive producer of the television program, wrote a response that was published in the June 2002 issue of the magazine. Here are some excerpts from the article (underline and bold added for emphasis);

The Antiques Roadshow Weighs In

"A while ago, we at Antiques Roadshow received a letter from Professional Refinishing editor Bob Flexner, pointing out that our apparent obsession (my word, not his) with 'original finish' has had the effect of misleading the public about what repairing and refinishing actually do to the value of furniture - most furniture, that is.

We're now in our sixth season of Antiques Roadshow on PBS... This means, of course, that there's a real premium on the accuracy, dependability and usefulness of the information we provide. ... I'd hate to think that we've created a subset of American furniture owners living in dread of a fatal financial misstep (though Antiques Roadshow is, after all, a show about value, including market value). ... Still, if I'm reading things correctly, it sounds as if Roadshow furniture experts are saying, by and large, 'leaving things alone is good, refinishing is bad.'

Understandably, our Americana experts on the Roadshow live for wonderful old pieces of furniture that have somehow survived in terrific condition - pieces not used too hard, left out in strong light for long periods of time or forced to survive a flooded cellar. Most old furniture, of course, doesn't come close to meeting those standards. On the contrary, most furniture has been well used (even abused), scratched, broken, and often repaired many times. How could such furniture not be improved by a good job of refinishing or restoring? ... A secretary, made by Christian Shively in about 1820, was brought to the Indianapolis tapings this year. It had been stripped and refinished by the owner to remove paint that had been applied many decades earlier. Appraiser John Hays endorsed the need for refinishing and complimented the quality of the work.

... So where does that leave us? Let the record show that Antiques Roadshow generally agrees with this notion: Well-conceived and well-executed refinishing and restoration usually enhances the value of just about any piece of old furniture. Exceptions are those rare (often museum-quality) pieces that have somehow survived in great 'original' condition. If we say or imply to the contrary, we should be called on it."

"Well-conceived and well-executed refinishing and restoration usually enhances the value of just about any piece of old furniture."

Is there a Difference between Refinishing and Restoring?

If you restore an object, you return it to it's original or usable and functional condition. With wood furniture, this can include removing a failed or improper finish (e.g., paint) and replacing it with new finish appropriate to the age and use for the piece. Replacing the old finish with a new one is called refinishing. But restoration can include a whole lot more!

Restoration can include replacing missing or broken doors, drawers, feet, trim pieces, hardware, and any other part of the original piece. It can include all kinds of repairs including burn marks, cracks, splits, loose and damaged veneers, loose joints of every type, worn drawer slides, and every other conceivable kind of wear and tear that comes from use and abuse.

On the other end of the spectrum, restoration may simply consist of a thorough cleaning, minor touch-ups, applying a new coat of finish, and/or applying a coat of paste wax. Restoration is an all encompassing word that means "Whatever it takes to return the piece to it's original condition, or at least make it functional and pleasing to the owner." Replacing the old finish (refinishing) is often just one of the steps in a restoration project.