This is a Victorian pine kitchen scullery table with a scrub top and the original scumble glazed finish to the base and legs. It has turned legs and a single drawer at one end. Pine is a very useful wood but the Victorian’s preferred mahogany which more was expensive. In order to mimic the look of mahogany they often painted less expensive pine with what they called a scumble glaze to imitate the colour and grain of mahogany. The base of this table is painted in this way.

I bought this table from an antique auction. When I bought it it was covered in orange sticky back plastic and had active woodworm. And it smelt bad. I took it home and scrubbed it with hot soapy water. Then I peeled all the sticky back plastic off the top and scrubbed it again to get all the tacky residue glue off. Next it had 3 lots of treatment for woodworm and was left to dry out. A couple of days later it was washed again, more gently this time. Then I sanded the top down so it was smooth and even. I gave the base a coat of clear wax but I left the top bare so it can be scrubbed easily. It had a day in the sun to dry out properly and now looks and smells lovely. And the worm is banished.

The table measures 124cm x 69cm x 73cm tall. Please note this is a vintage item and as such has lived a life with the odd knock here and there. I have described any defects but please don’t expect a brand new look, this is not a new piece of furniture. It is good and solid, stands steady and sturdy.

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