Furniture Repair and Refinishing Log

[Ego]

Techniques, tool, tips.... post your furniture repair and refinishing projects here.

[Ego]

A middle aged woman pulled into the swap meet at 5am in a U-Haul full of her grandmother's possessions. It was dark and she could barely see the things she was dragging from the bed and dropping on the ground. The way she was treating the items told me she wasn't happy to be stuck with the chore. There were only a few people selling that early so I decided to help her unload while illuminating the area with my headlamp. I noticed a table behind a few large boxes and asked the price. She said $5. Without really seeing it I told her I would take it. She made the sign of the cross with the $5 bill.

When I got it home I did a little research. It was made in Sorrento, Italy in the 1880s and the technique is known as Sorrento Inlaid marquetry.




I sanded it by hand with 110 grit sandpaper to remove the old faded finish then went up to 400 grit to finish it smooth. I followed Jacob's advice from my other table project and put a few light coats of tung oil. Nothing more. Came out nice.



I listed it for sale for $1200 and found a spot for it in our home.

[jacob]

Eh, this could be between $500 and $5000 or more... stop touching it!

[chenda]

Nice! I love that pouffe too, goes well with the table.

[Ego]

@jacob, I couldn't help myself. I started the thread because I wasn't sure whether to leave it as is or give it just a little TLC. Maybe I should have waited for advice before proceeding. I figured it was 50/50 chance the person who buys it will be an antique stickler who will be disappointed with my work vs the person buying for their home who would not have bought had it not been "nice". We shall see. There is a lotta stimmy money floating around right now so I hope someone who views the listing decides they've got to have it now.

@chenda, Mrs. Ego has wanted one for years and found it deflated at a thrift store. I believe it is camel leather. It gets filled with winter/summer clothing as the seasons change.

[Alphaville]

a beauty

[chenda]

@ego ah nice, good idea using it for seasonal storage. Looks like a nice place you have there.

[mathiverse]

Wow! That table is gorgeous after you cleaned it up. I would have never thought it could look so nice had I seen only the first picture.

[Ego]

I've been talking with two potential buyers for the table. One has offered $500. I countered with $750.

I have a few new projects in the development stages. One will require a good power stapler and a good sewing machine so I have been watching for them at the swap meet. I told my friends to watch for them. One guy buys video games, another buys antique knives and a third buys RC cars. I started texted them when I see things I know they'd be interested in and they are now returning the favor.