Samples are one cell thick

Paul at Globe Theatre

Sightseeing in London

Paul Garbarini studies wood identification techniques in London

Paul Garbarini, owner of Heirloom Finishes in Charleston, SC, recently returned from London where he studied the latest techniques of wood identification. The course, offered by International Academic Projects, provides classroom and laboratory sessions to help professional conservators gain knowledge of advanced methods and resources for the accurate identification of woods used in fine and antique furniture.

Paul’s decision to go to London for this highly specialized program was based on his passion for his work and his desire to provide better service to his customers. “A client would ask for confirmation of whether a drawer side was yellow or white pine.” he explained. “The difference can be important in valuing antique furniture. The only definitive way to tell the difference is through a microscope.”

“I completed “Chemistry for Conservators,” that IAP offered earlier this year as a correspondence course, and was impressed with their high standards and industry-specific curriculum. The session in London was the only course of its kind being offered this year.”

Other course participants were museum conservators from Finland, Scotland, Nova Scotia, and Switzerland, and an antique fan collector from England. The course was taught at London Metropolitan University by Sue Newton-Short, an expert in botany and plant technology and an Associate at the Royal College of Science.

In addition to learning the latest scientific methods of identifying wood, Paul learned about the historic trade in exotic woods of American, Asia, and Africa from Adam Bowatt, a furniture historian who has been featured on the popular PBS series Antiques Road Show.

“Historic knowledge is extremely helpful when valuing antique furniture. If a piece of furniture is said to have been made in England around 1790, and is made with Brazilian rosewood veneer, you have to challenge the date. Brazilian rosewood didn’t get to England before 1808, when Napoleon invaded Spain and Portugal. Only then did England begin trading with Brazil and importing rosewood and zebrawood.”

"The value of antique furniture can be greatly reduced if its finish has not been properly protected or has been thoughtlessly altered. We have seen the disappointment on the faces of people appearing on Antiques Road Show when they learn that their grandmother’s antique table would be worth ten times as much if it still had its original finish."

“At the course in London, we learned about the ethics of taking samples from wood artifacts for microscopic examination.” explained Garbarini. “Considering that the samples only have to be one cell thick, it is usually not difficult to find an unobtrusive spot on a piece of furniture to make a small slice with a thin razor blade. After a lot of practice, I even learned how to do it without cutting my finger .”

Garbarini is a dedicated professional. “We follow a strict set of guidelines so that we add value to fine and antique furniture. All of our treatments are reversible and re-treatable. We provide written and photographic documentation of the work we perform.”

He doesn’t limit his focus to antiques. “Furniture doesn’t have to be really old to deserve proper care. The desk that you inherited from your grandmother may not be an antique, but it is most certainly an heirloom. By treating the finish with care, it can last for generations.

To learn more about how Heirloom Finishes can help you with important decisions about your heirloon furniture, contact Paul by clicking HERE.

Left to Right:
Helen Akitt, Sari Selkee, Sarah Gerrish, Sue Newton-Short, Killian Anheuser, Maura McKeough, Paul Garbarini.