Expert Voice:

Behind the antique restoration process

MARIE-HÉLÈNE and PIETER VAN HOUTEN first started collecting colonial antiques that intrigued them during their posting to India in 2002. A move to Singapore in 2007 saw them turn this passion into a thriving antiques business, The Past Perfect Collection, with a range of antique colonial furniture from the British, Dutch and Portuguese eras in India.

Their skill is knowing what is authentic and what has value, and part of the joy of their job is the search for exclusive pieces. But how do they take items from looking like throwaways to becoming signature pieces that haven’t just been restored to their former glory but, in most cases, look even better?

Pieter talks us through the process used to turn the pieces they unearth into the sleek furniture you see in The Past Perfect Collection showroom.

A lot of in-depth knowledge is needed with restoration of very old pieces; for example, wood screws were never used during the construction process of these chests as they could damage or split the wood. Nails and tacks were used in such a manner as to “curve the tip” as it penetrated the wood; this kept everything secure, but didn’t cause any damage.

The same process is used today in India, where all our pieces are restored before being shipped to Singapore. The traditional handicraft of furniture restorers still exists and many of the team we work with there are sons of pioneer craftsmen who pass down their skills through the family.

We only select pieces that are in good condition and that don’t need much repair – just some inlay work to be re-done, for example, or handles replaced. We wouldn’t select a piece if the legs were missing or the wood was damaged and needed replacing, as it could compromise its integrity.

So, we ensure authenticity in our antique restorations by using the exact same tools and practices used by the original craftsmen, with as much of the original there as possible, and the result is a beautiful piece of furniture that can last for generations.

A lot of care and attention goes into antique restoration, and it takes many hours of craftsmanship to finish a piece. Here are the five main steps in the process:

1. The beginning of any restoration consists of removing all brass straps and handles. 2. The wood is washed in a special non-toxic solution to kill and remove dust, mould and mildew; then, both the wood and hardware are lightly sanded. If necessary, we do repairs using the same types of tools, nails, tacks and craftsmanship as when the piece was first made. 4. The next step is to restore and seal the wood using special non- toxic restorative oils and varnishes in a slow, repetitive manner to bring out the beautiful lustre and patina that only 100-year-old wood can achieve. 5. The last step is to bring the metal hardware (locks, hinges and so on), fixtures and any sheathing back to their original colour.