How do I unstick a jammed top drawer?

Pull gently from both handles at once. If it resists, try pushing it back in slightly to realign the runners. Humidity causes carcase wood to swell. This traps the moving parts. You might need to wait for a drier season or run a candle stub along the wooden glides.

Can I polish over the inlay?

Yes, you can wax straight over the patterns. A light coat of microcrystalline paste works well across the whole front. Just leave it for ten minutes and you'll find it buffs off gently.

My grandmother gave me one with intricate flowers on the front, but the wood looks dry and dull. Should I rub oil into it to bring the colour back?

Don't use oil on veneered surfaces. The liquid can seep through the hairline cracks in the old finish and dissolve the animal glue holding the pattern down. Stick to paste wax applied with a soft cloth. It feeds the surface safely without risking structural damage to the woodwork.

We are moving to a house with central heating and are worried about the sudden temperature changes cracking the sides. Is there anything we can do to stop that happening?

Keep the piece away from direct heat sources like radiators. Sudden drops in humidity cause the secondary wood to shrink, which stresses the decorative surface. Place a small bowl of water underneath the carcase during winter. It provides just enough local moisture to stop the oldest timbers from drying out too fast.

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Inlaid Chest of Drawers in East of England

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An inlaid chest of drawers is a wooden storage piece constructed with flush-fitting patterned veneers across its flat surfaces to hold folded clothing.