Featured Boulle box restoration, before and after + Wall

I haven't fully finished yet but I thought I'd share the story thus far. After winning this box on ebay (see thread https://www.antiquers.com/threads/ebay-returns-question.84912/page-3 ) I phoned a Boulle restorer to find out how much it would cost to restore, he said it would cost £1500 minimum and unless it dates to before 1799 it wouldn't be worth doing. Needless to say I didn't want to pay that sort of money so I decided to give it a go myself. I started by gluing down any loose bits of brass, then sanding flat all the proud brass (400 grit) because the tortoise shell had shrunk below the brass, then I used pumice powder to polish, then I used French polish to seal. The photos don't look as good as it is in the flesh. I'm yet to fill the missing tortoise shell and 1 bit of brass to glue back in, I had to cut the lock tabs that slightly damaged the lock but I'm happy with how it's gone so far. I added the wall for anyone missing it far.

 

Well, that's all kinds of gorgeous! Great job!

 

It was a bit nerve racking, it's the first time I've done Boulle work.

 

Amazing ! I wouldnt have even tried,Im not that confident !

 

I have done restoration before but I haven't done Boulle, I did try and get someone who knew what they were doing but I wasn't paying that price. If I didn't get it for free I might not have been so gun ho but I'm glad I couldn't get it done now as I won't be so afraid if there's a next time.

 

I always laud folks who do nice work with their hands !!!

 

Thank you but more luck than judgement.

 

Nice one! I have the nerve probably, but never an opportunity.

 

Great going (so far). Well done doing it yourself

 

Thank you.

 

I'll finish it soon, all the hard work is done. I still need to learn how to match the wax filler to the colour, I'll be dying my own beeswax because wax filler isn't something I normally use, I would replace or let a bit of wood in rather than use wax filler but in this case I have no choice.

 

I really wish I was that skilful and handy!

 

Most restoration isn't that hard, it's just trail and error, fortunately most forms of restoration can be easily undone and retried.

 

WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Congratulations on an amazing job done on the restoration.
How did you manage to open the box. I read that the key was lost and since this is a difficult lock to pick, am more interested how did you get it open.

 

A friend held the body and lid of the box as open as he could and I used a cut off wheel on a dremel to cut the 2 tabs that comes from the lock keep, this did badly scratch both the lock top and the keep plate but I didn't really have any other option. When I got in clearly the seller had already tried to open the box as the first 3 internal compartments were loose or broken and the back of the lock wasn't attached, the only thing holding it in was the keep and the protruding keyhole. Once the lock was out I could unlock it from the back to take the cut off tabs out. While I was there I dismantled the lock and removed the sliders so the key I have will open the lock, of course without the keeps tabs it can't lock. I know now I'll never get a replacement, the lock was hand engraved for "Halstaff and Hannaford, Manufacturers 228 Regent St." fortunately mine still has the paper label inside. I was as careful as I could be to minimize the damage but maybe if I'd known I might have tried a different method, the problem was this type of lock needs a lot of pressure to overcome the spring, had I tried to pick it the front of the box was too weak in that place and I would have snapped the tortoise shell as there isn't any wood there (a bad lock for the box) I wish I'd taken photos now lol it would have been easier to explain. Anyway I reinstalled the lock and reconstructed all the internal compartments so it now looks like it did before the seller had a go at it. The velvet has seen better days but at least it's original, the leather on the top of the compartments is a little worn but again it's all there. Would I have bought this box knowing it had had all this damage for what I paid? NO!!!! but seeing as I got it for free I can't complain.

 

Wow, raver! Great job on the box too!

Exactly! And it really is a beauty. Once it is on display, you'll forget about the lock and other issues.

 

I've just finished the wax infill on the tortoise shell, matching it was easy, BTW did you get the wall joke?

 

Wonderful.

I did. Which is why I said:

 

That's amazing! You have more talent than you admit. Thanks for sharing!