SERVICES | Frank van Brunshchot

Close up photo of a brush apply shellac to a carving.

Furniture
Services

Frank’s workshop offers a wide range of services related to the craft of furniture making. Although traditional cabinetmaking is the foundation of Frank’s work, his skills and interests extend to various associated decorative arts and crafts. These include traditional joinery, wood carving, hammer veneering, marquetry, gilded and tooled leather desk tops, and French polishing.

Frank’s face is being reflected in the French-Polished finish, which he is burnishing to a mirror-like shine.

French Polishing
A lost craft

Although shellac-based French polishing is a very labor-intensive and difficult craft to master, it is by far the best finish for antique furniture. It is flexible, stable over time, can be touched up and reworked, and ages to a nice mellow color.

Mortise and tenon joinery in progress for a Hoop pine table base under construction.

Traditional Joinery
Solid Timbers

Timber is a beautiful and sustainable material with inherent strengths and flaws. Joinery has been developed and refined over the last 500 years to exploit its strengths and minimize its flaws. A deep understanding of joinery is fundamental to furniture making.

A very high quality writing slope crafted from deep, rich chocolate coloured Brazilian Rosewood and brass marquetry.

Veneering Marquetry
Hide Glue – a lost craft

Frank has extensive experience with veneer, plain sheets, inlays, bandings, and detailed marquetry. He can replicate and repair missing or damaged veneer. Frank uses both traditional methods and modern vacuum presses to consolidate and fix loose veneer.

"We commissioned Frank to design and construct a chest of drawers. They are truly beautiful pieces. Carefully considered and exquisitely crafted. We would happily recommend frank.

Paul, Brisbane

Frank is inspecting and assessing a walnut William and Mary cabinet.

Insurance Work
for Valuable Antiques

Frank van Brunschot undertakes insurance work for valuable antique furniture. Flood and natural disasters are an unfortunate reality in sub tropical Queensland. Frank can assist, advise, restore and conserve all types of damage to antique furniture.

CONTACT FRANK

Frank is gilding leather using traditional engraved brass wheels and stamps to apply gold leaf to.

Gold Gilt Tooling
Traditional Elegance

Decorative gold-tooled edging on leather insets for writing desks and writing slopes. Frank uses 22 to 24-carat gold leaf with traditional bookbinding and finishing tools. This is applied to high-quality Italian leather, which can be distressed or antiqued as needed.

Detail of an oak cabinet with stylised scrolling foliage carving.

Carving Repair
Maintaining the Details

Carvings are a very important feature of antique furniture, often exquisitely executed by highly skilled and specialized craftspeople. Carvings are vulnerable to damage. Frank can repair losses to carvings as well as fully replicate detailed carvings.

A side table with ormolu (cast gilded bronze) by Francois Linke. An exquisitely crafted and highly collectable piece.

Hardware Ormolu
Gilt Bronze

Hardware, gilt bronze, ormolu. It takes experience and a keen eye to understand and correctly identify gilt bronze as opposed to the majority of hardware, which is brass. Gilt metal is extremely thin and easily damaged or worn through.

Detail of a large Flemish or French oak banquet table, circa 1830s.

Wax Finishes
Suitable Pre 1800's

Very early pieces were finished with waxes, drying oils, and natural resins. These pieces benefit from the softer and more mellow look of a wax finish.

Wood Turning
Thread Chasing

Woodturning has played a crucial role in the history of furniture making. Frank is an excellent woodturner, highly skilled in all aspects of the craft.

Cane Upholstery
Chair Seats and Frames

Rattan cane has been widely used in furniture, particularly in chairs. Frank can assist with any type of cane work, including woven cane and beaded sheet cane.

Traditional Techniques
Cow Hide Glue

Frank uses traditional collagen based Cow Hide Glue that has been used for thousands of years. It is extremely strong and incredibly versatile. It also has excellent properties in terms of conservation as it is reversible and stable over time.

CONTACT FRANK

Frank is a very skilled craftsman. He understood our brief and worked closely with us to create a beautiful piece of furniture. We love it.

Brian & Paula

Aspley

Furniture Services

French Polishing A lost craft

Traditional Joinery Solid Timbers

Veneering Marquetry Hide Glue – a lost craft

"We commissioned Frank to design and construct a chest of drawers. They are truly beautiful pieces. Carefully considered and exquisitely crafted. We would happily recommend frank.

Insurance Work for Valuable Antiques

Frank van Brunschot undertakes insurance work for valuable antique furniture. Flood and natural disasters are an unfortunate reality in sub tropical Queensland. Frank can assist, advise, restore and conserve all types of damage to antique furniture.

Gold Gilt Tooling Traditional Elegance

Carving Repair Maintaining the Details

Hardware Ormolu Gilt Bronze

Wax Finishes Suitable Pre 1800's

Wood Turning Thread Chasing

Cane Upholstery Chair Seats and Frames

Traditional Techniques Cow Hide Glue