Cedar Duchess Combination Chest now restored

[hap97]

I have just completed restoring this unit. The corner photo shows its original state.
Many years ago the drawers were caustic dipped, before they realised this was a mistake. The caustic eats into the cedar and changes its colour and texture to quite a depth and unable to sand out. However, with staining and care the damaged appearance has been reduced.

My method of restoration is...

• remove all hardware fitting and parts
• strip all old finishes (this piece had 3 levels)
• clean thoroughly with metho and steel wool
• only the old caustic cleaned drawers were sanded
• stain ( I use Wattyl Jarrah as their Cedar colour is too bright)
• 2 coats of shellac, sanding between coats with 240 paper, (or steel wool)
• fine steel wool the surface to remove the gloss off the shellac
• finish with Feed 'n Wax

It is an interesting piece as the two lower sections are drop down doors, I was expecting to pull out deep drawers.
I am trying to date the unit? It may be pre 1900 as all the cedar panels are 3/4 inch thick with no widening joints and the nails extracted whilst repairing the trinket drawers are square. The brass fittings also appear from this era.
Upon removing the wide bevelled edge mirror I found a 1938 newspaper, maybe the mirror was replaced at this time or it may really be the manufacturing date of the piece.
Any ideas would be welcome, especially comments about square nails.

[Horsecroft88]

First off, huge congratulations on completion of your cedar duchess. I know first hand what is involved in this sort of thing.

My two latest projects I am working on is a cedar blanket box and I managed to acquire yesterday a very large full cedar 7 drawer chest. Thankfully I don't have to strip it as the previous owner did that, and very well too. Not really sure how it was stripped but thankfully no damage to the timber and hence no need for stains.

I too am well aware of the issues of dipping cedar and would never try this. I have seen the consequences as you describe.

I will be honest I am most surprised you were able to achieve what you have with only 2 coats of shellac. I have started work on the top of my chest and have given it around at least 8 coats so far, cutting back after the first 3 with 400 grade paper and a second cut back at around coat 5/6 with 0000 grade steel wool. It only now is getting the sort of depth of colour and grain fill to bring out the true nature of the flame cedar. I suspect I will leave it now over night and cut back again tomorrow with 0000 grade steel wool and apply at least another 3 coats and only after that I think it will be ready for its final cut back with 0000 steel wool and waxing. I will use this approach with the rest of the chest, with around a total of 12 to 15 coats of shellac. Perhaps I am being too pendantic ??

Anyway apart from that the approach you took is basically similar to what I use with my restorations.

In terms of your duchess, I have seen ones dating back as far as 1880. John Buttworth (Australian Cedar), who is one of the country's foremost cedar antique collectors/authority has an image of such a chest on his website. However, going by the style of yours and especially the handles/escutcheons etc, my best guess is that it is likely to be Edwardian and therefore a little later origin, say around 1895-1905 or so sounds about right to me. Re the square (handmade nails), yes I do know what you mean but I still think the date range I suggest might be close.

Will be interested to see what others think.

[gyropilot]

Congratulations - very nice job...



Geoff