Chinese Rosewood Furniture - Problems with joinery/panels due to shrinkage

[Harlan Theaker]

Looking for some input from others...

A friend of mine has some beautiful pieces of Chinese Rosewood furniture that their family imported into Canada over 20 years ago. Several of the pieces have issues with joinery/loose panels due to the wood shrinking.

I gave him my own opinions on what I would do, but looking to others for their opinions/advice as I really have very little experience with pieces like this. He's wondering if it is worth it financially to invest the money to repair/refinish these pieces (if they were to ever sell them) or if it would be cost prohibitive given the likely higher cost to refinish?

I've included all the pictures he sent me below... it's hard to see, but he points out where one of the panels has shrunk to the point of exposing a small gap and you can also see the loose/broken joinery.

BENCH
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r95/Tomcompany/Past%20repairs/Random/100_4887.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r95/Tomcompany/Past%20repairs/Random/100_4887.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r95/Tomcompany/Past%20repairs/Random/100_4889.jpg


CHEST
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r95/Tomcompany/Past%20repairs/Random/100_4892.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r95/Tomcompany/Past%20repairs/Random/100_4894.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r95/Tomcompany/Past%20repairs/Random/100_4895.jpg


COFFEE TABLE (leg completely broke off)
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r95/Tomcompany/Past%20repairs/Random/100_4890.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r95/Tomcompany/Past%20repairs/Random/100_4891.jpg

[Jeff Duncan]

Well whether or not it's worth it partly comes down to personal value of the pieces. In general the stuff imported from Asia over the last 50 years or more are low cost reproductions often sold as 'originals' or antiques. Quality ranges but is generally on the low side often exhibiting flaws like what you have pictured. I've seen some better made, and a lot even worse!

If your friend wants to know for sure then he may want to have it valued by an expert who can put a better number on the worth of the piece. My guess would be it's not going to be something they can recoup....but you never know:confused:

good luck,
jeffD

[Peter Kelly]

Based on the colour of that shrunken panel and broken joint, I'd say those pieces aren't actually made out of Rosewood.

[Joe Spear]

Based on the colour of that shrunken panel and broken joint, I'd say those pieces aren't actually made out of Rosewood.


I agree. I've had bad experiences with Chinese-made furniture. The wood is often finished to look like some other wood but is actually a wood that splits very easily.

[Guy Belleman]

I have quite a bit of that furniture and it just coming up on being 20 years old. It is rosewood and each piece is very heavy. And yes, some of it has shrunk and some joints have loosened. Although the joints look tight, many of the tenon and mortise joints seem sloppy in the first place, and shrinkage didn't help either. The pieces under the heating system outlets, undergoing the most climate change, seem to have aged worse than others. I had a furniture repair shop repair a couple of items here in Japan, and their repairs haven't lasted well, so I end up doing it myself. I have tried several methods to fix the finish and the glue joints, and had some failures. The finish is supposedly lacquer. I have had some luck with just wiping on, or brushing, on some shellac on the bare spots, in a french polish style, blending it in carefully along the edge of lacquer. Haven't got any problems, although I usually test on the inside of the piece first, and vary the type of flakes slightly to match the color. The only glue that has held, is epoxy, after cleaning the oily wood with an alcohol or acetone, being very careful to not get it on the finish and only on the bare joint wood. I go through all of the straps and rope I can find to glue up an item. Some day down the road, when I finally retire from the DOD, I might refinish the whole bunch. Good luck with your project.