Remin Furniture

Remin Furniture has relocated, for quotes please email [email protected] or call 0412427330

We're talking Antique Commodes today, we've been admiring the beauty of two recently restored 18th century Walnut and Cherrywood pieces originally from the Paris region of France.

Sometimes you're lucky enough to find the cabinet maker's mark, this time stamped by ebeniste Pierre Cleret, rue Saint Nicolas, Paris. Circa 1730.

300 year old furniture requires a sympathetic restoration to retain the original patina whilst nourishing and protecting. The result is superb and each Commode sits magnificently in place in the owner's Sydney home.

Are you planning to renovate or moving to your new home and need some furniture stored? We can provide safe and secure storage at affordable cost and restore your furniture whilst it's here. Email for a quote [email protected]

Enjoy some of our recent favourites, restoration is a privilege and pleasure for us and the best things are worth waiting for.

Please email your restoration requests including photos and details to [email protected]

An iconic Australian success story and a tribute to both Maria and Giuseppe Fanuli two incredibly talented people who immigrated to Australia and created the renown Fanuli family brand.

Remin Furniture has worked with Fanuli for over two decades assisting the beautiful Cremorne showroom and their loyal customers all over Sydney.

When the Fanuli family asked us to restore a wonderful retro Chiswell sideboard made by Giuseppe early in his cabinetry career in Sydney we felt honoured to be trusted to work on this lovely heirloom.

Repairing broken handles, replacing missing sections and a strip, sand and re-polishing of the Teak timber cabinetry we achieved a beautiful, naturally warm modern finish.

Vail Maria and Giuseppe Fanuli, your dream and unwavering determination to succeed in Australia is much admired and Fanuli is in safe hands with your devoted family.

Restoring this traditional Campaign Desk has uncovered the tale of a family through the centuries, this is their story...

I understand from family “history”, the desk came to me via my great-grandfather, Anthony Watson Brough (1861-1936), who was a missionary in southern India (Tamil Nadu) for some 30 years from the turn of the last century. My family name should be Brough, but my paternal grandparents divorced and when my grandmother remarried, she changed my father’s surname to that of her new husband (it was NOT an amicable divorce). My grandfather was Charles Anthony Brough, both he and his brother Herbert were with the First Light Horse in Gallipoli in 1915 and Herbert died in France in 1917.

My understanding is that the Brough family had a connection with someone who had been with the East India Company, and my genealogical research turned up one James Ryley, born 1733 and who began with the EIC around 1750 as a “writer” and who died in India in 1816, and who was at one time the Factor of Surat and the Deputy President of Bombay. James married Catherine Watson (b 1740) In Mumbai on 2 April 1760, and they had one daughter, Elizabeth (b 1762) who, I now think, died at birth in India (probably with her mother).

I think that Catherine Watson was in some manner related to Maria Watson (1736-1779) who in turn married Anthony Brough (1723-1805) who was the great-grandfather of Anthony Watson Brough. My working assumption is that the desk ended up with AW Brough through the Watson family, perhaps in connection with his own time spent in India. I came into my ownership of the desk as the result of the death of a close cousin on the Brough side (CA Brough’s first cousin) who I tracked down some 40 years ago – her estate was, literally, left to the dogs’ home and I had to bid at auction for the desk against a dealer who identified it after the auction as a campaign desk made in India during the late 18th century – which fitted the backstory that I had been told.

By way of some additional history, AW Brough collected numerous artefacts during his time in India, which were eventually gifted to the Australian Museum by the cousin referred to above (his niece). When I became aware of this in the late 1980s, I began to advocate for them to be returned to India, which they were in 2000.

So the tale continues, a sympathetic clean, revive and French Polish to retain its history and value by Remin Furniture ensures many more years of service as a wonderful family heirloom.

Further reading: https://tamil.wiki/wiki/A.W._Brough

This antique Japanese Tansu is designed in two parts allowing it to be easily moved, used separately or stacked. Its simple lines with ornate metal fixtures have been restored with some repairs to the timber exterior and handles and a clean and polish to enhance it's wonderful glowing patina. A fantastic design by the Japanese craftsmen that is relevant and very usable in 2023.

Wishing you the merriest little Christmas and a wonderful New Year from us all here at Remin Furniture We've closed our doors to enjoy our Summer holidays here in Sydney and will lay down our restoration tools until Monday 16th January 2023.

The four days of 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th... well where did they go! A change of pace now with the restoration of a superb modern desk top that sits perfectly on a modern metal base.

The last few years of the necessary home office work spaces has seen many clients request restoration of their desks and often re-purposed dining table tops. A thorough strip, sand and re-polish in a hardwearing modern Matte finish has resulted in this beautifully designed and constructed desk returning to its original perfect condition.

Cheers to getting back to the office, combining the home and office or choosing to continue at the home office. It's wonderful to have a choice!