Sligh Empire Dresser & Mirror: Workbench Log
Diagnostic notes and photo series from the restoration of an antique Empire Revival mahogany chest by Sligh Furniture Co. of Grand Rapids (ca. 1880–1930).
Intake Diagnosis & Scope
This Empire Revival chest arrived with original tilting mirror on S-scroll uprights, scroll-foot base, and original drawer hardware. Sligh Furniture Co. (founded 1880 in Grand Rapids, MI) used exceptional solid mahogany and fine joinery. The primary issue was not structural breakdown, but decades of oxidized finish that turned the wood muddy, flat, and visually heavy.
As-Received: Darkened Finish & Surface Wear
The original finish had crystallized and darkened, obscuring the flame mahogany veneer on the drawer fronts. Hardware had dull surface corrosion, but all keyhole escutcheons remained intact.
Preserving the Original Sligh Label
Before any chemical stripping or sanding began, the original paper label stamped inside the upper drawer was masked and protected. Solid wood drawer boxes and dovetails were inspected and cleaned.
Cleaning Original Brass & Balancing Tones
Rather than stripping the brass or replacing it with modern repros, the knobs were cleaned in place with gentle brass polish to retain genuine aged patina. A custom warm gray-brown stain was hand-applied to open the mahogany grain.
Protective Satin Topcoat & Glide Waxing
Multiple coats of hand-rubbed satin clear coat were cured and buffed to provide durable water and ring resistance. Drawer runners were burnished with paraffin wax for effortless movement.
The Finished Transformation
The completed Empire dresser now radiates warmth, clarity, and architectural presence, ready for another century of daily use in a modern Pacific Northwest home.
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