Wood furniture damaged in transport

This is in response to Jennifer Roberts's query (posted on behalf of
Joe Bolger) on rosewood furniture damaged in transport.

Without seeing the furniture any advice is speculative and I suggest
your friend contacts a local conservator or restorer for furniture.
However, the damage does sound like something I have encountered
before, and I'll risk speculating:

You say it is hand polished in Pakistan, and because the cardboard
has adhered to or as you say 'baked' into the finish due to heat, it
could be that the finish is a shellac or similar natural resin
finish, which softened enough in the heat to allow the cardboard to
stick to it. Removing the cardboard is probably impossible without
the use of solvents, which will have a drastic effect on the finish,
but probably no more than leaving the cardboard on. Refinishing will
be necessary afterwards, so he'll have to contact a specialist
anyway. Try some ethanol (or methylated spirits) on a small area. If
the cardboard comes unstuck, then the finish will be sticky from the
ethanol, but then you'll know. I don't think there are many choices
otherwise. Your friend is welcome to contact me direct if he wishes.
Good luck,

Detlef Klein
Conservator
The Science Centre & Manawatu Museum
Private Bag 11055
Palmerston North, New Zealand
+64 6 3555123 or +64 21 608259

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:17
                 Distributed: Thursday, August 26, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-13-17-001
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