Family heirloom damaged, please help!!

[Ms. McGraw]

I wasn't sure if this thread belonged here or in the Display Case, so if I have posted it in error please feel free to move it accordingly.
As long as I can remember my Papa Glen was my best friend and the most important person in my life. When I lost him, his Grandfather's beautiful roll top desk became mine just as he intended. To me, this desk is my Papa. When they told me he was gone I ran into his office and held on to it just to try to hold on to him. It's one of the most precious things I will ever own.
I had planned to move the desk to my house when the weather broke, but unfortunately, my Grandmother's house was flooded last week. I am in dire need of the name of the best in the business when it comes to antique furniture restoration.
I'm usually a DIY kind of girl, but this means so much to me I feel that it's better to leave it to the professionals. Please, if anyone can suggest a specialist in the mid-west I would be forever grateful. Cost is not an object, my only concern is it's restoration.

 

[Josephine]

You might want to join your local Angie's List. It's a site that homeowners join and rate the companies they deal with (plumbing, electrician, catering, automotive, etc). They have a Furniture: Refinishing and Repair category that might have what you are looking for. Even if it doesn't, I've found it invaluable for finding other reputable companies to deal with.

 

[KittyT]

You might want to also try visiting a couple of local antique shops to ask who they would recommend. They will surely know of local refinishers who specialize in antiques and do quality work.

 

[Mojito]

Good luck with it, Ms McGraw - it's devestating enough when a beautiful antique gets damaged, but heartbreaking when it's a family heirloom. You've made the right decision in having it professionally looked at.

 

[Flivver]

If there is no structural damage to the piece, you may want to consider doing the job yourself (after doing research, of course).

I have several friends who had treasured pieces restored by so-called professionals...with disappointing results.

There are some good books available on furniture restoration. You might want to start with one of those, even if you do go the professional route.

 

[Teekay44]

My job is furniture touch up and repair (not just refinishing). Sorry I am in eastern PA but I would recommend contacting local fine furniture stores (Ethan Allen and the like) and see who they use. Also upholsterers would know someone. It is a true trade. There are no books or class really that you can take. It is a hands on skill.

 

[Ms. McGraw]

Thank you all for the suggestions! I've called Christie's (because I'm a little crazy I guess ) but they could only recommend places in New York, and I also contacted the Cleveland Museum of Art to see if they could refer me to someone reputable, but that too came up to be a dead end.
Thankfully, with your suggestions, as well as the helpful PM I received I have some fresh leads! I knew that the Lounge would be the right place to ask!