What is Patina?

I will concentrate on furniture and wooden artefacts, as this is my area of interest; however, this is not to say that other materials are excluded from developing their own patina. 

So, what is patina? Patina is the subtle lustre we see on antique furniture, caused by the application of waxes and dressings over the lifetime of the item. Waxing wooden items is an ancient practice. In its earliest forms, it was achieved by mixing shredded yellow beeswax with boiled seed oils and, later in the early 14th century, turpentine, which formed a protective film over the wooden surface. Up until the late 20th century, coal and wood were very common, if not the prevalent, methods of heating one’s home. This, coupled with poor ventilation and moisture from kitchens and bathrooms, created environments which caused these wax/oil/turpentine mixtures to darken over time as they absorbed dirt, soot and dust from the atmosphere, as well as from people's handling, from times when clean hands were not the norm.

The action of sunlight completes the effect, subtly fading the wood and crisping up any residual wax. This leaves a mellow skin that probably only occupies a thousandth of a millimetre of the piece. It is often quite delicate and easily destroyed by over-cleaning, or as it's often called, ‘washing back’. Nowadays, the well-intentioned application of modern wax polishes, which contain harsh solvents such as toluene, risk this prized patina. While these strong chemicals are included to help set the wax quickly and achieve a high gloss, they ultimately devalue the piece forever. Unfortunately, we see this all too often, with pieces of furniture that have been brutally cleaned with strong solvents or household chemicals.

Why is Patina Prized by Collectors?

Patina is highly prized by collectors and dealers. In simple terms, it speaks to a piece's history and authenticity. Adding character, it is evidence of its age, use, environment, and human interaction, showing a subtlety of surface which has been established over the years. It cannot be reproduced!

How to Protect Patina

Of course, the best advice when seeking to enhance your antique furniture is to seek professional advice. A good place to start would be BAFRA, the British Antique Furniture Restorers Association; or the United Kingdom of Conservation (now known as ICON), a charitable organisation dedicated to the preservation of traditional techniques, skills and training in multidisciplinary conservation. Both organisations have a list of accredited members.

If, however, you would like to care for your furniture yourself, there are a variety of very good sympathetic wax products which you can obtain, such as Cambridge Beeswax polish or Antiquewax.

When applying these waxes, my advice is that it is imperative that you start with a small area first, allowing you to gauge the effect. It is also advisable to use the wax products sparingly, no more than twice a year. I find it better to apply them during the warm months, as this helps to soften the wax, aiding its absorption and coverage.

The application process:

1. Begin by selecting two pieces of soft, non-fluffy cloth (think old cotton pillowcases, the kind that are almost threadbare). Keep one as your ‘on’ cloth and one reserved for the buffing process.
2. Apply a small amount of wax to your ‘on’ cloth and work in tight circles, covering no more than a 30 cm square. You will feel the wax start to bite as you work the wax into the surface; this is due to the solvent evaporating and, to some extent, absorption, as you feel the ‘bite’ start to straighten up the surface by long strokes, but don’t try to achieve a shine at this stage.
3. Wait until you have completed the whole surface or a continuous strip, then buff gently and keep turning the cloth when you see a build up of surplus wax on the face of the buffing cloth.

Looking to buy at auction?

If you’re looking to make a purchase or add to your collection, we hold regular auctions of furniture and works of art. Please see our Upcoming Auctions page or contact one of our specialists for further details and advice on: +44 (0) 1635 553 553 | furniture@dreweatts.com.

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