Before and After Photos: Restoration of Plaster Madonna and Child

A friend-of-a-friend was devastated when her cherished Madonna and Child toppled and smashed at a party. When we heard the story we thought we could help - when we saw the first photograph below, we momentarily thought we couldn't - but after 20+ hours of very careful work we managed to put her back together.

Table and Mirror: After Photos

It must be spring...

related post here

Table: After Photos

Click link to see 'Before' and 'During' photos

'Plan A' was to restore this table to it's former (wood veneer) glory.. but alas, when I stripped the paint, I discovered the veneer had been damaged quite badly. So, I painted it with Resene Alabaster (Lustacryl Low Sheen). Then, the rest of 'Plan B' was to find some patterned paper to cover the drawers. I hunted for a suitable paper... but nothing seemed right. *Eureka!* I had no plans with that ink drawing from a few weeks back: problem solved!

Original Ink Drawing Post  and  Second Ink Drawing Post

It's always fiddly to glue this kind of thing, especially when the handles are not removable. I cut the paper over size, cut holes with darts for the handles, and stuck the paper with PVA. Once it was adhered, I trimmed the edges with a sharp blade and coated it with Estapol Clear (waterborne). 

The most difficult thing, by far, was having the patience to mask the black and white areas of the handles. Lots of huffing and sighing happened during that part. Thankfully, Em's pin-striping masking tape saved the day. 

Photos of Paint Stripping

I just like these photos.
Especially the black one.
Stripping paint is so gratifying.

Table Restoration: Before and During photos

BEFORE

DURING

I bought this table on TradeMe. Score! 

It's mostly stripped now (using Citrustrip paint stripper and a great little tungsten scraper).

I'm hoping to sand it this weekend (with Emily's Festool sander - so much easier). 

After a good sanding, I think it will rub up nicely with a few layers of Tung Oil. 

We haven't decided where this will go yet, but probably in the hallway, for flowers.