French Polishing & French Polishers : This is a fine art and when skilfully applied will enhance your antique furniture as well as protect it. We are very professional in our approach to French Polishing and the many different ways a French polisher will achieve the correct period finish for your furniture. We also know when not use a French Polisher: There are many period antique pieces that were not French Polished but oil or wax finished, these applied wax polishes have given the antique a beautiful satin lustre which is almost impossible to replicate.  
Read more

Our team of Antique Restorers & French Polishers have a great understanding of the importance of keeping your antique furniture original. It not only helps to hold your antique furniture's value but also keeps the antique restoration costs to a minimum. We only use hot melt fish bone glue for all of our antique restoration work. This is the traditional glue used for hundreds of years by furniture makers and restorers. We also try to repair your antique furniture with antique wood sourced from our broken antique furniture section in our store. Read more

Darren, our own traditional upholsterer, provides that luxury hand finished touch to your antique furniture. Darren, who attended The London School of Furniture is proficient in the art of using traditional upholstery materials and methods such as horse hair and hand sewn springs. You are welcome to visit his traditional upholstery workshop at Gilboys, where you can also choose from a selection of traditional upholstery fabrics on display. Many interior designers throughout South Devon are currently using his traditional upholstery skills, along with the luxury yacht suppliers who use his skills for detailed leather work and hand made yacht covers.  Read more

In certain circumstances removal of your furniture may not be possible. We will send a 'house trained' French Polisher/restorer to your home or premises. We have noticed a trend over the last few years with private households having their staircase handrail French Polished to a high shine. It really does add the extra special finish to flight of stairs. Similarly if you have a very large bookcase that just needs a small amount of work and refreshing it may be worth giving us a call on 01803 762 763 or dropping us a quick email.

For those who would like to take care of their antique furniture, we are suppliers of James Jacksons 'Original Formula' Antique Furniture Wax Polish. Available from our online shop.

Over the past 23 years I have been lucky enough to experience many ways of hand finishing furniture and some of this knowledge has managed somehow to imbed itself to my cranium. I initially wrote the first article 'Wax On - Wax Off' for clients who wanted to know how to care for their furniture. Since then I have written several more relating to the care of antique furniture. Kindly a few magazine publishers have read my ramblings and committed them to glossy paper.   Read them here

Gilboy's have developed a method of polishing yacht interiors to match that of the very expensive polyester finish which many of the high-end luxury manufacturers finish their boats with. Many private and used yacht franchise dealers have discovered our gloss finish and are returning to us continuously, saving them both time and money.

This same heat resistant melamine finish is also how we refinish modern dining tables. It has tremendous properties; toughness, durability and heat resistance being the main three. Available in a flat matt, satin and full gloss finish.
Read more

May 2011
We have just completed restoration of another Georgian antique bureau. This included repair of veneer and beadings, restoration of the carcass, re-seating of the brass hinges, replacement of the drawer runners (or glides). The feet were so infested with woodworm that they had to be removed and templates so that new ones could be remade from reclaimed timber of a similar species and period.

Brass Handles Repairs: A piece recently came into the workshop with badly damaged brass handles and large portions missing completely. Will manufactured replacement pieces by hand with just a fret saw and silver-soldered on the replacement parts so well no-one in the workshop could tell the difference between the original handle and the repaired one!

Will has also been very busy cleaning and restoring a large consignment of smoke, fire and water damaged antique furniture this month.

Meanwhile Simon himself has been 'out on the water' in Weymouth french polishing the interiors of a number of luxury cruising yachts using the Gilboy's heat-resistant melanin lacquer.

April 2011
We have been asked by Dartington Hall Trust to restore a number of their late Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco period furniture. Our master restorers Will and Darren have just completed restoring a wonderful Edwardian two-seater sofa. It was completely stripped with the frame repaired and traditionally re-upholstered with a beautiful period fabric.

June 2010
Nick our �number two� antique restorer has been employed by Dartington Antiques to restore an antique early Victorian Partners desk. Made from solid oak with fantastic quarter sawn drawer faces, Nick has carried out a superb job on this antique 18 Drawer desk including inlaying a very large leather hide on the desk top, and ensuring all the brass locks are working.

May 2010
A more varied month: A Totnes client called in to our workshops with a large cardboard box which he hoped contained an antique Rosewood Chinese cabinet.. After many hours of piecing it together, which felt similar to building a giant jigsaw puzzle, we discovered there was two antique furniture items in the box! As you can see from the images it turned out to be an antique Chinese cabinet and an antique Chinese coffee table!! Also restored this month for dartington Antiques: an antique Edwardian inlaid desk & a set of Hepplewhite mahogany dining chairs.

April 2010
Piano�s are this months favoured antique. William and myself have carried out restoration work on a 1970�s rosewood Steinway grand piano and 1910 Bechstein ebonised grand piano. If we can we will always endeavour to repair small marks and veneer repairs without removing the piano.

March 2010
For the marjority of this month we have been restoring and French Polishing antique dining chairs. Kingsbridge and Totnes have been the main areas who have suffered the most. Weak, loose joints that have been neglected for too long have finally given up. Darren, our traditional upholsterer has been employing his skills on re-covering drop-in seats and complete restoration of an antique Victorian walnut Gentleman's chair.

1st February 2010
This early Victorian mahogany chest of drawers had been well used over the years and the owners of this beautiful piece of antique furniture requested that our restorers bring back that 'well cared for' condition.

21st January 2010
This sadly neglected and well used victorian open-arm chair was given to us to restore and re-upholster by the well-known Ashton House Design. It now provides guests of the Thurlestone Hotel a comfortable seat in the drawing room.

20th December 2009
A long time had passed since this antique Davenport had any furniture wax lovingly applied. Belonging to the same family for many years and sadly suffering from prolonged water damage. We were asked by the owner to restore it to as good a condition as possible. Hopefully as you can see we achieved this after many days of work, including the hand carving of the fretwork gallery.

18th November 2009
Will our main restorer, Is seen here repairing a Regency Supper Table. The leg of which had split down its length where it was originally joined. The ebony stringing will be replaced where it will also be French Polished and waxed to finish.

30th October 2009
Prior to being French Polished for a customer in the South Hams area of South Devon, this Victorian mahogany chest of drawers was in need of an injection of hot animal glue under the veneered top. With the use of a veneer hammer to spread the hot glue around, our restorer ensured the once loose & lifting veneer was reunited after 24 hours of pressure under a heavy weight.

21st October 2009
Antique furniture being repaired in the workshop at this time: A painted oak Partners Desk - A Victorian Mahogany Dining table - A George III Sideboard - 2 Rosewood Sofa Tables - A camphorwood Chest - A variety of Antique Chairs - A cricket Table - 1 Davenport - A Twin Pedestal Desk and a Victorian Walnut Bookcase
  

14th October 2009
French Polished antique dining table and completed full antique restoration on twin pedestal desk.

6th October 2009
On-site today deep in the South Hams at the Burgh Island Hotel, providing French Polishing repairs to the white piano.

2nd October 2009
Collected a secretaire drawer section from an antique campaign chest in Stokenham, South Devon. It requires antique restoration to the face after being accidentally dropped by removal men.

16th September 2009
On-site assessment of antique furniture across the South Hams area; A mahogany sideboard in Galmpton, Salcombe and a antique dining table in Thurleston, South Devon.

11th September 2009
Brigitte collected chairs from us to be professionally re-caned. One of two antique Davenports were under restoration in the workshop and Darren was upholstering one of two antique bedroom chairs.

2nd September 2009
On-site in Sidmouth, South Devon today French Polishing a mahogany handrail which I then lightly distressed to look aged with a wax finish.

1st September 2009
Approached by Channel 4 today for possible inclusion on Kirsty�s Home-Made Home for the second Series in 2010.. Best go on a diet then!

17th August 2009
Took delivery of an antique Regency mahogany writing slope today. Requiring repair work to the hinges, secret drawer and new leather skiver.

7th August 2009
Collected a 17th Century antique oak coffer from Torquay, South Devon. Requires a considerable amount of woodworm treatment and conservation repair work.

29th July 2009
Received a modern oak dining table from Paignton, South Devon that needs to be wax finished after a water spillage bleached the surface.

23rd July 2009
We returned an antique George III Bureau to London today after being completely restored, French Polished and wax finished in our workshop.

14th July 2009
Darren, our upholsterer has completed the re-upholstery of a 3 piece suite that will be delivered to Sidmouth, South Devon.

6th July 2009
A beautiful sunny day here in the South Hams. Will repaired and re-gilded an antique regency picture frame, we also stripped some severely flood damaged wood furniture and revived the polish on a small antique chest of drawers.

24th June 2009
A complete set of 8 antique dining chairs were carefully taken apart for repair. Their joints were cleaned and prepared ready to be clamped and glued tomorrow.

9th June 2009
Collected an antique extending dining table and sideboard from Exeter, Devon to be stripped and polished after years of use and the children have now grown-up.

1st June 2009
Big delivery to Weymouth, Dorset today of 15 items of restored and French Polished antique furniture that was water damaged from a leaking roof - hopefully we will return them to a dry house!

18th May 2009
Collected an antique grandfather clock movement from Simon Coulton the horologist in South Brent, Devon. Will spent the majority of the day fitting this movement, ensuring the face and movement were positioned precisely.

5th May 2009
On-site today at a riverside property in the South Hams French Polishing a mahogany handrail.

10th April 2009
Received an oak utilitarian dining table from Poundgsate, on Devon's own Dartmoor. Built by a close family member around the time of the second world war. It is to be repaired and re-polished.

13th March 2009
Restored and French Polished this flood damaged antique regency table.