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Before and after: real jobs from the workshop

Every photo here is Craig’s own work, before on the left, after on the right.

D-end dining table

Twin pedestal D-end dining table in the client's dining room on dust sheets, before restoration — A twin pedestal D-end extending table, on dust sheets in its own dining room, then restored and polished.

Restored D-end extending dining table with ladder-back chairs in a damask-papered dining room beside a marble fireplace — A twin pedestal D-end extending table, on dust sheets in its own dining room, then restored and polished.

Inlaid bedroom chair

Inlaid bedroom chair before work: broken cane back and worn green upholstered seat — A split cane back replaced with a new hand-woven panel through the original holes.

The same inlaid chair after: hand-woven cane back panel and a new studded turquoise seat — A split cane back replaced with a new hand-woven panel through the original holes.

Orkney-style chair

Orkney-style chair with a woven straw back, before restoration, with the seat worn through — The seat was worn right through. Now it has a new rush seat under its straw back.

The same Orkney-style chair after restoration, with its straw back and a new rush seat — The seat was worn right through. Now it has a new rush seat under its straw back.

Flame veneer headboard

The same headboard before restoration, with lifting and missing veneer along the edges — Lifting and missing veneer along the edges, relaid and polished.

Restored headboard with flame-figured veneer and a carved rope moulding, veneer relaid and polished — Lifting and missing veneer along the edges, relaid and polished.

Mid-century armchair

Mid-century armchair with a worn, broken woven paper cord seat, before reweaving — A broken paper cord seat, rewoven tight and even.

The same mid-century armchair with a newly woven paper cord seat — A broken paper cord seat, rewoven tight and even.

Tall chest of drawers

Tall six-drawer chest with a dull, worn finish, before refinishing — A dull, worn finish taken back and refinished.

The same tall six-drawer chest after refinishing — A dull, worn finish taken back and refinished.

Black lacquer cabinet

Black lacquer cabinet with bird and flower decoration and a chipped top edge, before repair — A chipped top edge rebuilt to match the decorated lacquer.

The same black lacquer cabinet with the damaged edge repaired — A chipped top edge rebuilt to match the decorated lacquer.

Drop-leaf table and chairs

Drop-leaf table and hoop-back chairs with a worn, patchy finish, before restoration — The whole set refinished so the table and chairs match again.

Drop-leaf table and hoop-back chairs after refinishing — The whole set refinished so the table and chairs match again.

And a few finished pieces

Pair of slender bedroom chairs with newly hand-caned seats — Pair of bedroom chairs, new hand-caned seats

Sunburst-matched figured veneer table top with an inlaid fan patera, French polished — Sunburst veneer table, French polished

Dining chair with a woven Danish cord seat and contrasting keys in the back rail — Danish cord dining chair

Got a before of your own?

Send it over, and say a word or two about what happened to it.

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