Here are pictures of what I'm talking about. Photo 1 and Photo 2. This used to be a screen - but now is 4 separate panels that we hang on the wall as artwork. We bought it when we lived in Nigeria. Over the years it has been hit by the sun too much and is now a bit 'striped' - on the image without the plant, there are no shadows - that variation in color is the difference between where part of it has been bleached and part hasn't.I have no idea what kind of wood it is - although it is very soft - like I can make an indentation with my fingernail if I push on it. I also have no idea what was originally used to finish it, although from what I was told by other artists, they would often use shoe polish. (The "ebony" elephant carving I have is definitely some other kind of wood rubbed black with shoe polish.)We're getting ready to move them, as a part of repainting and rearranging the room - and I really have no idea what sort of material or process to use. I'd like to restore it to the darker color.I'm sure the question will come up about value - and patina - and 'art' and all - and I don't really know what to say there. They have great personal significance, and probably some value as folk art from Africa, but it's not like they were used in some sacred tribal ritual or anything - this was produced as a piece of furniture by a wood carver, and purchased by us for about $80 in 1999.I'm sorry if a lot of this is irrelevant, but I'm not really sure what else IS relevant. I'll do my best to provide answers if necessary.Thanks in advance for the advice. via /r/DIY http://ift.tt/2ym4zvq
