Furniture Restoration

Restoration of an Early Nineteenth Century Oak Pembroke Table

The pembroke table made its first appearance towards around the third quarter of the eighteenth century when the Neo-Classical style was in vogue. It is alleged to have been named after the Earl / Countess of Pembroke who were the first to commision a table of this type. Pembroke table designs are featured in “the Cabinet-Makers and Upholsters Drawing Book” by Thomas Sheraton (1st edition 1792)

This piece is rather more rustic than the designs proposed by Thomas Sheraton being made from solid oak. The figure on the table top is beautiful - Oak has a very particular figure when quarter sawn caused by the large medullary rays (in a living tree the medullary rays are used to pass nutrients from the outside to the inner).

The rest of the table was not so good. The table flaps had been cut back, there was no drawer and the bearers supporting the flaps were too worn to be servicable. The top boards were loose and warped.

Luckily I was able to source some new quarter sawn English oak which had similar figure markings to the top boards which was perfect for extending the table leaves and making a new drawer front. Old oak was used for the other parts and repairs.

Once complete the table leaft extensions and drawer front needed to be coloured to match the original wood. Oak greys with age to give new oak this older grey hue ammonia is used. To prevent further greying of the existing old wood it was masked using plastic bags and masking tape. The leaves and drawer were then placed in a plastic tent and ammonia fumes circulated around them until the required level of greying was acheived. The main staining was added over this grey undertone.

Several layers of wax were applied to give the piece its final finish as an oak piece such as this would not have been coated with polish.

The flaps were too short, there was no drawer, the top was loose and the joints loose

The drawer front was new oak so it was aged by fuming in ammonia

Four new bearers were made, aged and coloured to match the original wood

Once colour matched the complete table was given a traditional wax finish

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