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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jeff Drum, post: 4488226, member: 6444&quot;]I have to admit “borax” furniture is a new term for me too. I would have simply called it Depression or Waterfall, which I think would be suitable also. But it seems “borax” is implying a particular type of depression/waterfall furniture. (This also might be a regional term: I haven’t heard it in the northeast US).</p><p><br /></p><p>Antiquetrader defines it as: “Borax: The term “borax furniture” means the extremely cheaply made but showy furniture aimed at the bottom of the Depression market. It was usually made of gum or poplar, which was painted in a yellowish wash. Then the pattern of fancy veneer was actually printed onto the surface and router lines produced an “engraved” look on the printed surface.”</p><p><br /></p><p>So the main difference seems to be whether the veneer is actual wood, or simply printed on. The waterfall furniture I’ve seen has all been with real veneer, but this piece could all be from paint. Certainly the center area appears to be printed or painted, but too hard to tell from this distance whether the fancy veneer on the sides of drawers are just printed too, but seems plausible. Looking closeup is the only way to tell.</p><p><br /></p><p>In any case, careful cleaning with a slightly damp rag followed by wax should definitely be safe for this piece and would be the best way to care for it.</p><p><br /></p><p>P.s. borax powder is still used by blacksmiths as a flux to join hot iron together.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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