This solid cherry desk was built by the client's great grandfather possibly as late as the 1930s (from the manufacturing stamps on the locks). It had been repaired once or twice in the past, and was in very distressed shape with fractured joints, splits, and broken legs. After a methodical disassembly of the main parts of the desk, each repair was done in a carefully planned sequence along with the removal of the clear finish. The interior was braced and strengthened while preserving the original design of the piece. Finally, an antique oil finish was applied followed by several applications of clear finish. The client was so impressed with the results, he posted the shop sequence photos on Flicker.