from The Wall Street Journal

Scattered around Yuri Yanchyshyn's studio in Long Island City, N.Y., are high-powered microscopes, hundreds of wood samples and an extraordinary array of tools and application materials ... One of his most challenging projects, the 63-year-old Detroit native says, was a 1930s Frederick Kiesler dresser owned by a private collector. "It had been improperly restored with an incorrect veneer." This meant he had to identify the right veneer and then match the degraded original coating. Working with two of his staff, it took two months to restore the piece ... "Yuri has an intuition of how far to go with restoring," says Horace "Woody" Brock, an economist and avid collector of fine arts, whose collection of English Regency furniture and decorative arts is now part of Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.

What Wood Is That?

The identification of old woods is part of everyday life in the studio, and the examples we see can be difficult to recognize with certainty. Recently we were asked to conserve a beautiful and intricate parquetry panel whose design featured many different veneers. Since there were a few missing sections, we examined the veneers in situ to determine appropriate matches for replacement.

Gilded Frames

Many times when viewing paintings, drawing and prints, it is impossible not to notice how much their frames add to the esthetic experience. This happened to me recently, while viewing the alluring exhibition "Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Peinture en Bois

Marquetry is often considered the zenith of the cabinetmaker's art. The ingenuity required to conceive and piece together intricate designs made of various types of wood frequently yields breathtaking results. Unfortunately, objects decorated with marquetry require particular care and are quite susceptible to conservation issues. There is nearly always such an object in the studio for treatment. 

The Conservation of an Ivory Statue

Nearly every prominent collection of decorative art objects includes items made of materials that are now considered rare or are regulated by government agencies. Ivory is perhaps foremost among these materials. It has been favored by craftsmen for centuries. Famous examples include the Venus of Schelklingen, believed to be more than 35,000 years old, and carved from mammoth ivory, and the Lewis Chessmen, dating from the twelfth century.

Furniture Condition Checklist

The beginning of autumn is a good time examine your furniture collection for early signs of wear, and to prepare for the upcoming entertaining and holiday season. The following short checklist can assist you. 

Conservation of Historic Metals

Private collections in New York City include stellar examples of decorative art metalwork, including the above precious metal examples we had the privilege to treat recently. The image on the left is part of a sterling silver coffee and tea service, c.1925-30, by Georg Jensen with horn handles, smooth metal, and a brilliant finish.

A collection of lectures and panels that Yuri has participated in.

An English 18th-Century Japanned Cabinet on Stand

A private collector in New York City recently brought in a beautiful English cabinet on stand with a delicate Asian-inspired design crafted in gold leaf on a black japanned ground for treatment. This piece was truly extraordinary; we had noticed one of similar quality in a famous European collection.