Plowden & Smith undertakes the conservation and restoration of fine antique furniture and carved objects. The furniture department specialises in cabinet making, the making good of marquetry and carved details, gilding (water and oil) and polishing. The department also specialises in decorative finishes, the repair and replacement of mounts and the conservation of unusual surfaces.

A client wanted a copy made of an existing Georgian dining chair in order to make up a set. Patterns were taken from the original chair and a new chair was copied in an appropriate timber. The new chair was stained, 'distressed' and polished to match the original.

The cabinet was received in the workshop in its original unrestored condition in need of careful, sympathetic conservation and restoration. Some structural restoration was needed and much of the tortoiseshell and ivory veneer had to be re-laid. In addition, some missing tortoiseshell and ivory veneer was replaced. The whole cabinet was lightly cleaned and waxed, and keys were made to replace the missing originals.

Conservators and restorers from the furniture department had to work on site on this project. The pulpit and sounding board was in need of conservation and restoration. Careful cleaning lifted the old dark late Victorian varnish to reveal a lighter, earlier, Georgian finish. Structural repairs were carried out and all loose and lifting veneers re-laid. The pulpit and sounding board were finished with bees-wax polish.

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