Art Deco Olive Wood Dresser

Dresser before

Dresser after restoration

When Jim and I came across this unique dresser we couldn't pass it up! Its character was a one-of-a-kind find and we both loved the excellent quality and details of this piece. The handles were all present (something rare in old dressers) and they had a unique art-deco style that appealed to us. Upon further examination, we discovered the dresser had two very long cracks on each side, one side being worse than the other. After we got it home we looked closer and discovered that this dresser had no veneer! Whatever that wood was, it has had been the construction of the dresser and was
about 7/8" thick. We had never seen anything like it. We knew we had a gem.

Once we began working on it, it was apparent that someone had already tried to remedy the worst crack, which was on the left side of the dresser, by nailing a long board on either side of it. This was probably done long before they had the pipe clamps used by carpenters nowadays. We knew that that board had to be removed so we could properly fix the dresser using glue and clamps, so Jim carefully removed that strip of wood and with glue and clamps, pulled the two sections together as far as they would go. After it had dried, he replace the inside strip with another one, using screws to fasten it. That crack wasn't going anywhere. He followed the same process on the right side of the dresser, but luckily that crack wasn't as visible as the other one and hadn't run the entire height of the dresser, so it was easier to repair and almost invisible when completed. Jim also replace the very thin trim molding at the top of the dresser and cleaned all the handles until they sparkled. We discovered them to be made out of brass, not uncommon for a dresser of this era as brass is easier to work with when creating a fine detailed stamped design such as this.

Handle after restoration

Handle before restoration

After the repairs were made it was my turn. I sanded the entire dresser and drawers as smooth as I could get it and then applied a red mahogany stain, bringing out the natural beauty of the wood. The next day I applied the first coat of semi-gloss polyurethane and the dresser started to shine. It was a gorgeous piece, to be sure. After I had finished the second coat and let it dry, Jim installed the now-clean handles. We couldn't believe the completed product! We were fortunate to have stumbled upon this one of a kind piece of furniture and are happy that a and his fiance had bought it for their new home!

Check out another great old dresser: http://finalefurniture.blogspot.com/2014/12/charlevoix-cherry-antique-dresser.html