[Hunter]

Hello, I have a piece of furniture with an interesting finishing style and I was wondering if some one could help identify the name and technique of the finish. Below is a picture, thanks so much for the help:

[Hunter]

Also, I'm not talking about the brass inlay thing. I'm just trying to figure out what the speckled or "splattered" finishing technique is called and perhaps how you do it.

The piece I posted is from the late 70s. Also, if I'm not being clear, please ask me a question. Thanks so much.

[AlArchie]

Looks like either one of two basic techniques folowed by "spatter painting".

Spatter painting is exactly what it sounds like, paint is spattered onto the undercoat. A simple way of doing that is to take an old (well new if ya want) toothbrush, dip it into a dark colored paint and then simply run your thumb over the bristles and aim the resultant spatter at the surface you want spattered!

The base looks like it is probably a faux graining process done by applying a neutral base coat followed by a darker paint applied by wiping on with a piece of cheese cloth. Or it can be applied with a brush and wiped off with clean cheese cloth.

Faux grain can also be applied with a turkey feather dipped in thinned paint and swirled over the surface. Your piece does not look like it was "turkeyed" however.

A second possibility is that the surface was "pickled", a chemical bleaching process that lightens the wood's and produces some very nice subtle effects.

I think your piece was faux grained, though. The reason I say this is because of the more dense (darker) areas near the cross pieces.

Al

[Tom H]

Hunter and Al, I have some furniture from that period that the finish is the same. Al is correct in the manner in which the "fly specks" are applied. The furniture was sold as "fruit wood" finish. I suppose there was method to naming the wood that. After making some repairs to some of these pieces of fruit wood, I found it was actually poplar.

Tom H

[xsailer]

Hunter,
Off the subject but wondering what you did to get the large picture on the forum?

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by xsailer

Hunter,
Off the subject but wondering what you did to get the large picture on the forum?

Thanks so much for the help guys. I really appreciate it. Also, I was able to put the picture up by linking the photo from my personal webspace. That is the original size of the picture. Hope that helps.