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Furniture Antiques & Collectibles

Antique hutch with unique finish

5 years ago

I have an antique hutch from the early 1900’s ( or earlier) It belonged to my grandmother. After stripping off all the layers of paint, I found it had a unique finish. It looks like black lines close together, but not uniform in length or width with a coat of stain over it. I love the look, and am curious if anyone has seen this before or knows what technique was used to do it. Over the years, some of the shelves have been replaced and I would like to apply the same finish to them.

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Sombreuil

5 years ago

It's a faux quartersawed oak effect popular in the first decade of the 20th century. It allowed a piece of furniture made from a featureless wood such as poplar to take on a more desirable grain and color. It was accomplished with a sort of decal that transferred a dye onto the wood.

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Comments (17)

elunia
5 years ago
Some photos would be helpful.
lindac92
5 years ago
Yep....pictures please
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Fori
5 years ago
Maybe faux bois?
HU-847953278
Original Author
5 years ago
User
5 years ago
Those black lines are the grains of the wood. Some woods are very dense and the finish will seep only a little way into the wood other woods will have more stains. Remember trees form growth rings. The area between each season is a little softer than the ring which is why if you cut a tree and allow it to decay the rate of decay between rings will be different. It is the area between the rings that you are seeing. Not the scientific explanation but layman's.
jemdandy
5 years ago
When I was a boy, pieces like that were found in farm kitchens, and the farm wife called it a 'kitchen cabinet'.
Fori
5 years ago
It very much does look like a kitchen cabinet--like a primitive Hoosier. It might even have a pullout breadboard?

Wish there was a closeup because I can't see the finish.
elunia
5 years ago
Yes, please post some detailed photos.
mfrog
5 years ago
detail photos would help out. I think it may be a "grained" finish, ie, faux painted to look like wood graining.
lindac92
5 years ago
Definitely a hutch....which is defined as a set of shelves placed on a lower unit with some counter space.
And It does look like false graining.
HU-847953278
Original Author
5 years ago
It’s definitely not the grain of the wood because the underside of the wood is not grained. It does have one pull out bread board, the other is missing. It definitely needs some love to bring it back to its original look. I am trying to find out the technique that is used to make this faux finish.
lynartist
5 years ago
Unfortunately the condition of your cabinet is pretty rough! You could try to replicate the finish by doing a technique called combing. It would be difficult though and the finish you have now is in such poor condition with large gaps and areas that need repair I’m not sure you should try to salvage that.
lynartist
5 years ago
Perhaps after you get your cabinet in good condition you may want to try to replicate the finish. Many old pieces were decoratively painted to look like more expensive woods or just embellished for interest. Painting combs come in many different sizes.
kootenaycapable
5 years ago
Another tool for painting wood grain is called a "rocker".
PRO
Sombreuil
5 years ago
This article talks about this particular style of factory-applied faux oak finish.

https://fromtimespast.com/2010/11/23/when-is-oak-furniture-not-oak-furniture/
lynartist
5 years ago
After you do the repairs on this and sand to a smooth finish I would prime and paint this. Trying to salvage the old faux finish will not be possible IMO .

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