I have been working on re-finishing an antique piece all summer, and it is finally complete!
I picked up this bed-side table in Mount Jewett, PA last summer, and fall quickly approached. Due tp humidity and cooler weather here in TN I had to postpone the project until this summer. It had a gaudy and dark varnish/ stain combination that masked the natural beauty of the wood. A before photo will be posted soon..still looking for it. Initially, I thought the piece was cherry as it had a deep red tint; however, the book match veneer on top certainly wasn't indicative of cherry. After researching various types of grain and wood types, I think it is American Chestnut - identified by the warm tones, wood grain, and burly book match veneer. it is a gorgeous piece, and was worth the countless hours of stripping, sanding, prepping, and detail work!
Take a look at the development and finish of the piece:
