I have late Meiji period, c. 1890 – 1910 tansu made of cedar, cypress, and keyaki. It does not have a laquer finish. What oil or other material can I use to protect and maintain it? My main concern is to minimize drying.
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Replies
Bucks,
You didn't say what condition the surface is in.
Personally, I wouldn't use an oil on your tansu. A very simple way to protect it would be a shellac finish. You could use any type , blonde, ruby, garnet, to bring out some color without any stains or dyes. You would only need two or possibly three coats at the most. When complete, let it cure for a few days and then apply a couple of coats of paste wax. You can apply the wax with 0000 steel wool on the first coat for a softer sheen. Apply the second with a soft cloth. This will give you a soft and traditional glow.
Peter
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