John T. Kirk trained as a journeyman cabinetmaker. He later graduated from Yale University and was Professor of Art History at Boston University.

In a 1975 book titled The unresourceful collector’s guide to american antiquitiesit had a chapter titled “Buy It Ratty and Leave It Alone”.

The idea he proposed was that you should not radically rework an antique piece of furniture, for example, because you will degrade its value as an antique. This is especially true of painted furniture, even if it has been painted and repainted several times. The habit of stripping and restoring to “enjoy the beauty” of wood may be a matter of personal enjoyment, but should not be recommended for its artistic or antique value.

This “buy it tattered and leave it alone” practice became so popular, and so widely recognized as a good idea, that dealers and collectors for a time would actually refer to a piece as having “a Kirk surface,” so called. by John T. Church.

Now “untouched” is required in most circles, and some have even repainted pieces that were originally removed when that style was in vogue.

Here are some suggestions collected from Kirk himself:

If you value painted furniture for its beautiful surface, leave it untouched and only dust carefully.

If a part was only finished with varnish, you can “feed” the surface to give it a shine. Don’t use a liquid, says Kirk, not even a spray. You’re not “feeding” the wood itself, just the finish, and liquids will soak into the finish and get into the wood, eventually turning it dark, dull, and fuzzy.

Use paste furniture wax (only good quality) without chemical additives. Turpentine softened beeswax is a traditional fine. Use a soft cloth and apply thin coats. Buff with a soft cloth after each layer dries. You can use a clean, soft shoe brush on molding, carving, or other intricate areas. Do not allow wax to pool in sunken areas, as it will turn yellow.

Don’t put brass cleaners on wood, even if they say they won’t affect wood. They will eventually darken the wood with chemicals, tarnish, and particles. You need to protect the wood, perhaps by sliding tabs under the brass (you may need to loosen the nuts slightly). Or remove the brass, making sure to mark their locations for reattaching.