Distressing

<h2 id="antiquing">Antiquing</h2>

<p>Antiquing is a more involved form of distressing where the artisan intends to not only age a piece, but also create an antique appearance.
</p><p>In addition to distressing the finish, the artisan may reapply historical paint colors, antique-like <a href="/facts/Faux_finishing/S19FBtXq">faux finish</a> and crackle varnishes. They might also apply period accent details, such as antique knobs on dresser drawers.
</p><p>Several methods involve <a href="/facts/Glaze_(painting_technique)/uXt3eexS">glazes</a> in which colors blend into crevices to give an antique appearance. The antiquing process is time-consuming and normally requires many steps to obtain the appearance of an aged and worn finish.
</p><p>In the mass-produced furniture market, it is common for 'distressing' to include faux woodworm holes. These can easily be distinguished from real woodworm holes (as might be present on a genuine antique) as faux woodworm holes will usually be all of identical diameter and vertical into the wood. Genuine woodworm holes, on the other hand, would be of varying diameter and usually not perfectly vertical.
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<h2 id="techniques">Techniques</h2>
<p>The artisan may deliberately sand, dent, and scrape the finish off of furniture or object. Wood can be hammered softer, or dimpled, bleached, pickled, stained or repainted with crackling paints and varnishes. Antiquing paints and varnishes are available at craft stores or can be mixed at home. New layers of paint can be watered down before they are applied to allow the wood and other layers to show through or to look more like <i><a href="/facts/Whitewash/79dQsUWm">white washing</a></i>. Layers of paint of varnishes can be sponged on to create an uneven pattern. After any new paint or layers are applied, the corners and features can be painted slightly lighter or sanded down as desired to appear worn. Steel wool can be treated with vinegar to create an acid oxide, then brushed across a stripped and sanded surface of the piece to create a vintage stain effect. In addition, the following antiquing techniques can be used:
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<ul><li><a href="/facts/Decoupage/UW5U5KV6">Decoupage</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Gold_leaf/br341Ypd">Gold leaf</a> and <a href="/facts/Gilding/Q109QPJs">Gilding</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Graining/cMLIeUlj">Graining and combing</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Texturizing/NA8o5MV4">Texturizing</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/facts/Trompe-l%2527%25C5%2593il/9be5DK56">Trompe-l'œil</a></i></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Liver_of_sulfur/opYmJ7eX">Liver of sulfur</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Verdigris/c6hG6bbI">Verdigris</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Wood_stain/qvx1BdIY">Wood stain</a></li>
<li>Chalk distressing</li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Aging_(artwork)/rpM9zvbf">Aging (artwork)</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Patina/IVQsrSMM">Applied patina</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Faux_painting/S19FBtXq">Faux painting</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_art_techniques/yK0LFmCo">List of art techniques</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Refinishing/YatC1vMN">Refinishing</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Shabby_chic/tQXaB6KE">Shabby chic</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Stone_wash/FT3MqgSp">Stone wash</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Wood_finishing/JraBr8US">Wood finishing</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Look up <i>distressing</i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060818134901/http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_faux_antique_distress/0,1792,HGTV_3395,00.html">Home and Garden Television (HGTV) - Antiquing/Distressing Article Collection</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.macworld.com/article/1164748/how_to_give_your_artwork_that_grungy_weathered_look.html">Giving artwork a weathered look</a> Macworld.com</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Log Home Design Jan 2003 - Page 162 "Some homeowners use stain and distressing techniques to give their log walls a weathered look and feel." <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Distressed Furniture Archived May 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://chippycharm.com/distressed-furniture/" target="_blank">http://chippycharm.com/distressed-furniture/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

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Distressing