Our Finish

All of our products are finished using time honoured traditional hand polishing methods which create a fine patina and depth of colour. As a result, the finish is slightly softer than sprayed lacquer finishes and more prone to damage from misuse.

By choosing not to grain fill, the finish of our products may display small open knots and natural flaws in the wood. We believe this detail contributes to the individuality and character of each Iain James piece.

Unless otherwise instructed, the product finish exhibits antiquing and distressing techniques. These processes add splashes and scratch marks designed to enhance the final finish.

Care and Further Information

Frequently dust your furniture with a dry, soft duster.

Occasionally wax your furniture, using a high quality polish based on beeswax. This will nourish the wood and help to prevent the surface of the wood from drying. We do not recommend the use of a silicone based polish. The wax should be applied to a manageable sized area and the excess wiped off quickly with a clean cloth. When removing the excess wax, it is important that the cloth in use is clean so that wax is not dragged around the surface leaving streaks. The wax should always be removed in the same direction as the original polish was applied. This can be seen by looking closely at the patina. Fine finishing lines in the patina will display the direction of application.

Any spillage should be removed immediately with a damp cloth and subsequently dried.

Avoid placing hot objects on to the furniture as they may mark the finish.

Avoid keeping furniture in strong sunlight. This could affect the colour of the piece and could also result in the movement of veneers and timbers. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity may also damage the furniture.

Due to the natural properties of wood, expansion or shrinkage may occur at any time.

This maybe the cause of climatic changes and the effects of central heating, as a result we cannot guarantee the non-movement of veneers and timbers.

A large bowl of water or humidifier can assist centrally heated rooms. Similarly, dehumidifiers are useful in more humid environments.

Iain James can offer a restoration service to help to remedy any such movement. However, the non-return of movement cannot be guaranteed.