Darkening shelf detail on antique oak china cabinet

15 years ago

I have a tall oak china cabinet (it might actually be a library cabinet) with glass doors. Origin is supposedly Belgium. The shelves are all fronted with scalloped detail that is beautifully carved. One thing I have not liked is that this wood is lighter than the outside wood: like a butterscotch color vs. burnt sugar. Therefore through the glass doors the lighter wood is visible. The seller said it had not been refinished: maybe (I'm guessing) the wood outside darkened with age and the inside wood was more protected. The carved strip is nailed to plain wood shelf boards. The carved part looks like it has maybe 1 coat of stain and 1 of varnish. The actual shelf wood looks completely unstained and unvarnished, as does the rest of the interior, which looks completely raw. If it WAS a library cabinet this makes sense: the books would have covered the inside and the unfinished wood would not have been visible.

Can I use something to darken at least the carved edges, the shelves, or would that affect the value? I was thinking maybe Old English oil, either the colorless or the scratchcoat kind meant for medium color wood. The shelves seem quite raw but staining them to match is probably a bad idea.

Here you can see the shelf looks almost gray.

Through the glass the color looks even lighter.

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Comments (12)

mfrog
15 years ago
The inside of antique cabinets should not have any finish on them. One of the mistakes that some refinishers make is spraying the inside. You could try a darker oil on the carved edge of the shelves, but I wouldn't put finish on the inside.
HTH, mfrog
lindac
15 years ago
It's an antique book case, the darkening of the outside is one of the things that happend with age. the inside was protected and didn't darken.
You are trying to make it look jnew and all uniform ands tained and varnished. Leave it like it is. It's lovely. Put stuff in it and you will see a big difference.
Linda C
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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
15 years ago
I did have things in it, I took them out to rearrange. I realized a center shelf cleat was missing and made a new one. While the china was out, I thought this would be a good time to shoot it and to ask about the shelves.

I didnÂt know that the inside was normally unfinished. I wonder why that was? (Is it because it IS a bookcase not actually a china cabinet? The store said it was when I bought it. But to me it was ideal as a china cabinet as it has more shelves than most.)

And when did manufacturers start finishing insides? My c.1908 oak breakfront and c. 1930Âs walnut cabinet are finished inside. But I have no idea how old the one I just posted is. (GoshÂjust realized I have 3 china cabinetsÂall filled)
lindac
15 years ago
Don't know just when....but all the earlier pieces I have with shelves andw ith or without glass, are unfinished inside....but for one that someone painted yellow.....and I had to repaint.
I am guessing somewhere around 1900 and before were un finished inside.
Thinking it might have something to do with the fact that early finishes were not premixed in a can at the store and required more time and effort to make and apply.
But I sure wouldnt' do anything to it.
Linda C
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
15 years ago
Interesting. Learn something every day. IÂm glad I asked. Thanks! You are a great resource. This is my oldest non-family piece and the first one I bought so I want to treat it well. I had a feeling it was older than 100. I asked the seller but it seemed like they did not want to commit to a date.

I have included a picture of the whole piece. You can see how it looks with china inside!
lindac
15 years ago
It's wonderful! I think it's a china cabinet.
Linda C
kathleenca
15 years ago
linnea56, you have a beautiful cabinet. It really shows your dishes nicely.
palimpsest
15 years ago
Its a great piece, I dont think I would touch it. Darkening is 'oxidation' from a combination of light and air. The inside was protected by both the glass and its contents.

I had the opportunity to see a house that was owned by one family from 1912 to 1993 or so. There were doors that were light on the side that sat against the wall, dark on the "front" side, floors that had pale rectangles from rugs that never moved...etc. That is how I learned firsthand about this process.
kaktuskris
15 years ago
In my honest opinion the finish on this piece looks either too clean to have not been refinished, or the piece is not that old. If it were an old piece with original finish there should be some signs dirt, grime, wear over time. Does anyone else agree? Regardless of age, it is a wonderful piece...

Christopher
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
15 years ago
There is wear, scratches, etc., more on the bottom half than on the top. It just does not show in the picture; I took it too far back. Not really dirtÂdoes it have to be dirty to be old (LOLÂ)?
lindac
15 years ago
Nope Christopher....I don't agree.
I have pieces that have been in the family forw ell more than 100 years that are clean....or will be when I dust them!
sombreuil_mongrel
15 years ago
In general, pieces that come to the US from Europe are either taken better care of to begin with, or undergo some reconditioning prior to shipment. (or both.) The continent is full of people who still know how to re-polish pieces. Renewing old shellac-polish finishes that are in fair condition to begin with is a pleasant chore.
Casey
ps: you could darken the shelf edges with brown-colored Briwax.

Darkening shelf detail on antique oak china cabinet

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mfrog

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Darkening shelf detail on antique oak china cabinet

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