Wash Stand
This washstand was made by Upson and Johnson Furniture Manufacturers in Rockford, Illinois, between 1868 and 1875. I believe it is made of mahogany with a shellac finish.
When I received it, the joinery was very loose, and the top had a large crack along a glue line. The finish was damaged, and there was a significant stain on the top. I carefully disassembled the piece, repaired the crack, and re-glued the stand. To restore the finish, I used alcohol and a fine-grit pad to remove the top layers of shellac, then reapplied several coats by spraying.
The Midway Village Museum in Rockford, Illinois, maintains a record of local furniture manufacturers. According to Rockford’s Furniture Factories Resource Packet, Upson, Johnson & Company was established in 1868. The company produced chamber sets, bureaus, washstands, extension tables, stands, commodes, and bedsteads. It closed in 1875 and burned down in 1877.
