Furniture Restoration Project
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has awarded a Keystone Grant for the restoration of the Bimah furniture. This competitive grant will help the Beth Sholom Preservation Foundation to restore the original furniture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright specifically for this sacred space.
Brian Boland of Boland Woodworking has begun careful removal of the first pieces of furniture to begin this important project.
The Sisterhood Chairs Finished
May 11, 2021
This is the group fully refinished. Three coats of modified acrylic lacquer. In all of our refinishing, we use what is known as “water white” acrylic lacquer. The top coats are colorless and allows the depth of color to remain as it was when applied. The acrylics are also more resistant to UV light and have a hard surface.
Sisterhood
April 30, 2021
Continuing on with the restoration of the furniture in Beth Sholom, we have moved down to the lower chapel, The Sisterhood. A much smaller space, more intimate, it is used for smaller gatherings. The furniture is in much better condition than the upper sanctuary. The ultraviolet damage is significantly less. Nonetheless, a 60-year-old finish has broken down, leaving the amber color of oils, and there is wear and tear on all the pieces.
Restored and Refinished
April 09, 2021
We delivered the furniture a few days ago. As you can see, all of the color work has come together to preserve these fine pieces. This is now a homogenous ensemble—the way it was.
The Lecterns Return
March 12, 2021
At long last the newly refurbished pieces are coming home.
The Home Stretch
March 04, 2021
Now after a 2 months long endeavor in preparation work, we are ready to restore the furniture back to its original color and finish. There is extensive color work to do, requiring a blending the old with the new.
The lecterns required new bases in total, with all new penny points made in our shop, new veneer on the tops and aprons and more miscellaneous repair throughout.
A Mysterious Damage
February 04, 2021
One of the tall chairs had a remarkable damage near the diamond top. Has a look of insect infestation, but very doubtful.
Some of the time I spend on restoration is dedicated to deciphering how a type of damage occurred. An old bad repair? Maybe. But something odd happened here.
The decision was made to cut out the damage and replace it with new wood. We inlaid a new piece of walnut and reversed engineered the assembly. We kept the original veneered back of the rail intact.
The Main Sanctuary Lecterns
January 28, 2021
According to Boland, “These pieces are surprisingly heavy and yet are delicate to look at and touch. The bottom of the bases, as seen in the photo, is where the work is. Love these pieces. Sculpted only in the way FLW worked his furniture.
Having the original shop drawings for the lecterns, even though they were revised later, was something of a surprise. I printed them out full scale and have them on my wall in the office. However, they are of no help on the restoration end!“
The Work Begins
January 15, 2021
And so it begins. Boland’s first move is to discover the damage that has been done throughout the years. Having years of experience in restoration, they know where to look. An arm here, a leg there, the edge of a seat.
They are now doing scarf joints with solid walnut--piecing in without removing too much of the original...getting back to a solid foundation that will take a new piece.
The First Step
December 8, 2020
The team from Boland Woodworking picked up the first pieces today to begin the restoration. These are the chairs from the pulpit in the Main Sanctuary.