The Belligerent Finisher

By John Porritt

One aspect of furniture finishing that has not been fully explained is how to achieve the gently worn, warm and human surfaces that you find on antiques. "The Belligerent Finisher" changes that. Furniture restorer and chairmaker John Porritt explains all the steps in taking a new chair and transforming it into something that looks like it’s 200 years old. The goal is not to produce fakes, but instead to create a finish that looks correct for pieces built on antique patterns.

Sure, there are lots of people who “age” furniture by thrashing it with heavy chains and burying it in a dung pile. But their furniture looks simply damaged (at best) and not believable (at worst).

Porritt, who works from a small red barn in upstate New York, has been at his trade for many decades, and his eye for color and patina is outstanding. We’ve seen many examples of his work, and it is impressive because you cannot tell that any repair or restoration has been done.

His techniques are simple and use (mostly) everyday objects and chemicals – a pot scrubber, a deer antler, vinegar and tea. How you apply these tools – with a wee bit of belligerence – is what’s important. 

The book is lavishly illustrated with color photos that clearly explain the process. With the help of this book, you'll be able to fool at least some of the people some of the time with your own "aged" finishes.

"The Belligerent Finisher" is 98 pages with a laminated softcover, and a sewn and glued spine for longevity. Like all Lost Art Press Books, it is printed and bound in the United States.