The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
PROTECTION
While certain transfers do not require protection, it is best not to assume this unless so advised by the maker. Ordinarily it is customary to apply a coat of white shellac followed sometimes by a coat of pale varnish, which in some instances, is applied over the entire piece and rubbed down in the regular way. This will somewhat change the color of the transfer, but not infre- quently the additional antique, softening effect is one to be desired. On many types of furniture an antique shading stain, preferably a spirit soluble aniline mixed in shellac, is purposely applied over the transfer as part of a general shaded coloring.
Where lacquer is used over transfers two methods are available, each of which will prevent bleeding or discoloring. A coat of white shellac, about 2 lb. cut, is first applied, followed when dry by lacquer which ordinarily will not penetrate through. Another successful plan is to apply first a very thin mist coat of the lacquer, allow it to dry ten or fifteen minutes, then follow with the regular lacquer coat sprayed on full strength. It is important in both cases that the transfer be laid tight against Hie surface, as raising or softening will occur most quickly on bubbles or air-raised spots.
Free-hand painting
DESPITE the remarkable advance in the artistry and genuine feeling afforded by decalcomania transfers, there are still signs of partiality on the part of a large number of manufacturers, particularly in the higher grades of furniture, for hand-painted decorations. For this purpose men and women are used, usually graduates of a school of applied art, and the amount of work they can turn out in a single week is truly remarkable, especially where a single design is being repeated.
Of course, not all furniture styles are suitable for hand-painted decoration, the prime purpose of which is to relieve with color and balanced form an otherwise plain background. Thus highly carved furniture or pieces replete with curves or offering very little flat surface are not adaptable, as this would be "gilding the rose.'' as the saying goes, and make for vulgarity rather than artistic interest. Thus a four-post bed, a rococco console or a massive Renaissance chair would be undesirable subjects, where a painted table, a pier bookcase, a severely designed panel bed or a large cabinet lend themselves to such treatment admirably.
PROPER PLACING
In the case of painted furniture, the decoration is applied over the last coat of enamel after it has been rubbed out or over a flat coat followed by shellac or varnish. On natural wood finishes, the painting is executed on the shellac coat prior to varnishing, or over the rubbed varnish according to whether it is desired to protect it or not.
