Restoring a Cape Regency Linen Press

The antique yellowwood and stinkwood Cape country Linen Press that we bought at an auction in July needed some restoration work to return it to its original function, that of a linen press.

I embarked on a search of references to the linen press using our various Cape country furniture books but they all describe the outside with very little or no reference to the inside design. The linen press is a beautiful Cape Regency piece of furniture with its straight pediment above and Regency turned feet below.

Original shelf support

Shelf support made by Keith

Somewhere in its approximate 150 years of existence, the three shelves on the inside were removed so that it became a wardrobe with hanging space. Luckily for us two of the shelf supports remained. With an example of what they looked like we could replace the missing ones to their original design and positions. The places from which they were removed were clearly visible.

The linen press originally had three Oregon pine shelves positioned above two drawers which were located on the inside bottom. As it often happens in furniture, the rare wood was used on the outside and the less expensive wood on the inside.

Restored shelf supports

I had the raw Oregon pine shelves and unfinished shelf supports made up. Keith replicated the shelf supports with the exact detailing that he found on the remaining ones in the linen press. In true Keith style he replaced the shelf supports using matching screws to the originals, in the exact positions where they had been, taking care not to detract from the original fabric.

Shawn gave the shelves a final sanding before I oiled them with a mixture of Woodoc furniture oil, raw linseed oil and oil of turpentine. This recipe was provided by a friend who is a professional restorer of antique furniture.

The restored interior of the Linen Press

The mixture even imbues the furniture with a nostalgic aroma.  With the linen press restored to its former glory we cannot wait to put it back to its original use.