Dave,

If your friend does refinish the sideboard, and it is a "real collectable" antique, he may prove himself to be more stupid than the person who burned the piece in the first place. Many "true" antiques will be immediately (DEPRECIATED!!) in value by as much as 75% by having the original finish and patina altered or removed, as in refinishing....DON'T TOUCH IT UNTIL HE KNOWS FOR SURE!!

There was recently a "highboy" type dresser on The Antique Roadshow that was appraised at $35 thousand dollars "PROFESSIONALLY refinished" and would have appraised at an estimated $250 thousand had it had the original finish, according to the same appraiser.

Roger