ABSTRACT
Although I (Terry) certainly do not qualify as a furniture refinisher, I have done some pieces of which I am quite proud. One of these is an old icebox, vintage late nineteenth century. I found it outside in a backyard; it was painted white with a black top. When I peeled off the first layer of white paint, beautiful oak wood was exposed and I could not help thinking, “Why would anyone ever cover this fine wood with paint?” This antique icebox that had been discarded as unsalvageable now is coveted by many friends and family who visit my mother’s house. There was a treasure underneath all of that messy paint, but it took some persistence to expose the beauty. But the question remained, “What caused a person to damage such a fine piece?”
