Here is an excerpt from Andrea’s description of the project.

Here at the IMA we are preparing for a new design center. One of the recently acquired pieces is a side board by architect and designer Eliel Saarinen. Saarinen was a Finnish architect who is better noted for his art nouveau buildings in the early years of the 20th century, and national romantic style than for his furniture.  Our side board was created in 1929, shortly after Saarinen immigrated to the United States. … The side board is a 49 5/16 x 77 9/16 x 20 13/16 in. rectangular chest on four legs, with four doors on the front of the piece, covering three compartments (two sides and one larger, central)and its surface is decorated with a diamond pattern of walnut and burl wood veneers. The diamond appliqué follows an alternating pattern of light and dark burled wood over most of the planar surfaces of the piece.  The piece when acquired has diverse cosmetic and structural issues to its surface. For this specialized treatment the IMA’s conservation lab invited conservator and wood specialist Mark Minor to work on the piece.  In addition to the stabilization and preservation of the cabinet, the goal of the treatment was to bring the artist/designer’s intent back to view—to reduce the muddiness of the varnish and clarify the grain/figure of the veneers.

Sounds cool, right?  Did you know that we also have another IMA conservation project on Flickr?  Don’t miss the treatment of a Thornton Dial work.