Treat antique furniture like a piece of history - something that you revere and cherish

There's something so compelling about a well-worn piece of antique furniture. How we cherish an old piece, handed down to us through generations. The superb quality of old wood, the finish, the classic lines…they all work their magic. No wonder, then, that antique furniture has always been popular, and is currently much sought after. Luckily, for those of us who haven't inherited any, antique furniture dealers do a great job of sourcing old pieces, carefully and expertly repairing and polishing them, restoring them to their original glory. Even a single such piece brings its mellow magic to your home.

How does one maintain the beauty and strength of antique pieces? Wood can scratch easily, and can be damaged by heat, cold and moisture. Farooque Khan Bombaywale of FM Arts firmly believes that prevention is better than cure. "Do not wait till the damage occurs. Take preventive measures to protect your furniture and it will prove to be a lifelong investment," he advises. According to him one should always be careful to keep the furniture away from water, candle wax, tea, and coffee spills…a common mishap in most homes!

Rajiv Tipnis of Heritage Interiors recommends wiping all old furniture regularly with a soft cotton cloth. For carved furniture he suggests using a special brush to remove the dust. Over the years, with wear-and-tear, some damage is inevitable, says Haji Abdul Sattar of Tawakkal Furniture "Some damage of this type may be repairable only through refinishing," he says. If the piece is badly scratched and damaged he suggests scraping it and then reapplying French polish.

"A coat of Touchwood mixed with turpentine gives a nice gloss and makes it relatively maintenance and hassle free," says Tipnis. A surefire technique to keep the shine, according to him, is using lemon oil sprays. "Also, the polish must not contain alcohol, which will dry the wood and leave a residue," he cautions. Farooque suggests applying a thin layer of mansion polish with a clean dry cloth and then buffing it well with another clean cloth.

Some great tips to help you maintain the health of your favourite piece:

§ Put felt disks on the bases of lamps, vases and planters so that they don't scratch bare wooden surfaces. Always use absorbent coasters under cups and glasses.
§ Rub in a drop of lemon oil to remove stains left by glasses and cups.
§ Polish your pieces in the direction of the grain of the wood.
§ Keep antique furniture away from direct light and heat.
§ Never tilt back in antique chairs, particularly dining room chairs, as this puts too much weight on the legs.
§ Before moving a piece of furniture, examine it for loose or damaged joinery. Try always to lift it while moving it, rather than dragging it across the floor.
§ When transporting furniture in a vehicle, place the object on its back or top, not on its legs.

While old pieces are usually made of seasoned and solid teak, mahogany or rosewood, and can last for generations, do remember that they need to be treated with care and respect too.

FM Arts, Shop 33, Mahavir Darshan Complex, 267, New Timber Market, Bhawani Peth, Pune -411 042, Phone: 26454505 / 9422011751.
Tawakkal, Tain Square, Fatima Nagar, Wanowrie, Pune - 411 040. 2, Azam Campus, New Modikhana, Pune - 411 001, Phone: 256201376/9823198886.
Heritage Interiors, Shop No5, Suraj Building, NIBM Road, Pune - 411 048, Phone: 26802051.

Ritika Ramtri Kumar