In the field of furniture restoration, reconstruction refers to the restoration of missing parts. It is important for the expressiveness of the furniture or wooden object. Often cultural objects are in a very poor condition before restoration and are often no longer complete. Parts are lost through robbery, vandalism or come loose due to poor environmental conditions. Before a furniture restorer decides to reconstruct a piece of furniture or a wooden object, he or she must check in each specific case whether lost parts should be added or whether the fragment should be left as it is.
The following questions must be clarified in connection with a reconstruction:
- Degree of reduction in the possibility of grasping and experiencing the object.
- Significance of the impairment of the aesthetic effect of the object
- Unquestionable reconstructability of the appearance of the defect
- Technological requirements for the reproducibility of the missing part
- Ethical and aesthetic problems arising from the addition.
For many owners of old furniture, restoration is an aesthetic issue. One wants to enjoy the beauty of the furniture. Other objects are old picture frames whose gilding has been damaged over the years.