Shellac Finishes on Antique Furniture | Antique Repair Shop

Shellac is a natural resin dissolved in alcohol and used in many furniture finishes. It can form anything from a modest brushed coating to a highly refined polished surface.

What to look for

Warm colour, fine crazing and sensitivity to alcohol may offer clues, but visual inspection alone is not conclusive. Many old surfaces contain several resins, oils, waxes and later coatings.

Common mistakes

Alcohol, perfume and hot cups can mark shellac rapidly. White rings may involve moisture, heat or both; an improvised internet remedy can make the damage permanent.

Care and repair

Use mats and coasters, avoid sprays and test any cleaning method in an inconspicuous place. Preserve an old finish whenever it remains serviceable.

References and further reading

[V&A furniture collection](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/furniture)
[Canadian Conservation Institute: agents of deterioration](https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/agents-deterioration.html)

This article is educational. Test treatments cautiously and consult a conservator before altering a valuable or historically important object.

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See conservation-minded repairs, examinations and techniques on the [Antique Repair Shop YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@AntiqueRepairShop).