French Polisher in Northampton – Traditional French Polishing

Looking for a French polisher in Northampton, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Towcester or Olney? Joe is an experienced French polisher who restores and re-polishes furniture, pianos, doors, panelling and staircases on site or in our Horton workshop.

French polishing is the traditional hand-applied finish found on most fine antique furniture. Many thin coats of shellac are built up by hand with a rubber, giving wood a deep, rich gloss or a soft satin sheen that brings out the figure and colour of the grain in a way few other finishes can.

Hard wood finishing is a more accurate description of what we do: French polishing is one of the techniques we use to produce a high quality gloss or satin finish, alongside lacquers, ebonising and colour matching. Every project starts with an assessment of the wood, the existing finish and how the piece will be used, so we can recommend whether a traditional French polish, a hard-wearing lacquer or a bespoke colour match is the right approach.

We French polish antique and modern furniture, dining and occasional tables, doors, panelling, pianos, bar tops, staircases and rails, in oak, mahogany, walnut, cherry, ash, rosewood, beech and other hardwoods. We work for private homes, businesses and stately homes, and on barges and ships.

How we French polish

1. Assessment and advice. We look at the wood, the existing finish and how the piece is used, and advise whether it can be revived and re-polished or needs stripping and a full French polish. Depending on the size of the job, we French polish either on site or in our workshop. Large items such as big dining tables, staircases, panelling and doors are usually best polished on site.
2. Preparation. Old, failed finish is cleaned off or stripped, and the surface is prepared so the new polish bonds properly.
3. Repairs and colour matching. Chips, scratches and damaged veneers are repaired, and new wood or filled areas are colour matched to the original so the repairs blend in. We also remove water rings, heat marks and white marks.
4. Grain filling. On open-grained woods such as mahogany, oak and walnut, the grain is filled so the finished surface is smooth and level.
5. Bodying up. Many thin coats of shellac are applied by hand with a polishing rubber, building up a deep, even body of polish.
6. Spiriting off and finishing. The surface is brought up to a full mirror gloss, or cut back to a soft satin sheen, depending on the look you want, and can be finished with a wax if you prefer.

French polish or lacquer?

French polish gives a depth and warmth that suits antique and fine furniture, and it can be repaired and revived in the future without stripping the whole piece. It is, however, marked by heat, water and alcohol. For dining tables, bar tops, kitchens and doors that get heavy use, we may recommend a harder-wearing lacquer instead, colour matched to the look of a traditional polish. See our lacquering and special finishes page.

Getting a quote

Every piece is different. The time and cost depend on the size of the item, the condition of the existing finish, the repairs needed and the finish you choose, so we price each job individually. For a quote, send us a few photos and a short description using our contact form or WhatsApp.

Areas we cover

We are based in Horton, just outside Northampton, and carry out French polishing across Northampton and the surrounding villages, including Great Brington, Church Brampton, Boughton, Brixworth, Moulton and East Haddon. We also work throughout south Northamptonshire and north Buckinghamshire, including Towcester, Silverstone, Whittlebury, Deanshanger, Stowe and Buckingham, and further east in Woburn, Aspley Guise and Turvey in Bedfordshire, and Olney, Newport Pagnell and Wing in Buckinghamshire.