Refinishing is the process of removing all or part of the existing finish from a piece of furniture or woodwork and applying a new one. It may involve stripping old varnish, paint or polish with chemicals or abrasion, sanding the surface, staining or bleaching the wood, and then applying a fresh finish such as French polish, lacquer, oil or wax.
In the antiques world refinishing is treated with considerable caution. The surface of old furniture, built up over many years of polishing, handling and exposure to light, forms a patina that is regarded as one of the most valuable aspects of a piece, and once removed it cannot be restored. Heavy refinishing, especially stripping and sanding, can greatly reduce the value of period furniture and destroy evidence of age. For this reason most dealers and restorers prefer conservative methods, such as cleaning, reviving the existing finish, filling scratches and applying wax, over full refinishing. There are cases where refinishing is justified, such as furniture with a badly damaged later finish, or pieces intended purely for practical use. Buyers should be alert to overly bright, uniform surfaces, which may indicate that an antique has been refinished.
