November's updates are very special indeed in the history and present day knowledge of the Buchschmid and Gretaux Wood Inlay Company.

Not only have we got for you several photos of those very important tables that Mr. Buchschmid made personally for Mrs. "O" (as featured in the story on the previous page), we also have the "Buchschmid & Gretaux Wood Inlay Company and ABC Studios true story" as written by no other than Mr. Otto Chlup himself!

Otto's stories and his recollections of the Buchschmid and Gretaux Wood Inlay Company including its association with ABC Studios are, without doubt, the definitive narrative on the history of the company.

He was, along with Mr. Buchschmid and Mr. Gretaux, the immensely important third arm of the triumvirate that produced all those wonderful BG wood inlay works during the latter half of the twentieth century.

Otto himself, still maintains a very active interest in the history of the Buchschmid and Gretaux Wood Inlay Company and ABC Studios.

He is currently helping us in our researches on the subject with his obvious and highly valuable prodigious knowledge of the B & G Company and ABC Studios.

Otto tells us that a few years ago the German Government acquired and incorporated the Buchschmid and Gretaux Wood Inlay Company's main workshop into the State Museum at Mannheim in the section covering the subject of 'Bygone Art'.

Apparently at this moment in time, the workshop's setting is still being finalised, but once it is completed, this should be a very unique and interesting insight into the working practices and artistry of the Buchschmid and Gretaux Wood Inlay Company at the height of its powers.

As many of you probably know, ABC Studios and their workshops distributed and looked after the well-being of the B & G inlaid pictures and furniture. This important position naturally gave ABC Studios unique knowledge as to the best ways of caring for those wonderful B & G products.

We asked Otto's opinion on the best ways to look after, care for and protect the now aging Buchschmid and Gretaux wood inlay pieces.

Otto said that the conservation recommendations we give in these pages are definitely the best methods to follow when looking after you own B & G wood inlay pieces.

But he said that any repair work to the varnish finish or veneer damage of any kind should be left to a professional, it is not a job for the amateur to attempt.

As we previously recommended , any form of cracking (otherwise known as craquelure) found in a wood inlay piece is best resolved by placing a small container of water in the near vicinity of the afflicted piece.

The small amount of evaporation that will be produced by the water will be enough to provide sufficient moisture to rehydrate the arid, or dried out, piece and help restore the distressed piece back to a correct condition for a wood inlay piece of its antiquety. Central heating drying out the wood is usually the culprit to blame here.

Another important recommendation of Otto's is to avoid hanging or placing your B & G Wood Inlay piece in direct sunlight. The ultra violet light in the sunlight has an unfortunate, but completely natural, bleaching effect on the colours in the veneers and varnish.

You will particularly notice that the contrast of the various veneers in the inlaid picture somehow seems to have faded over the years. What may have seemed striking when you first acquired the piece may now seem somewhat dimmed.

You may have thought that it was just you becoming "use" to the piece and that it was probably always like that, but in fact, it is more than likely that sunlight has actually faded the natural pigment in the veneer.

It has to be borne in mind that the colour pigment found in veneers is all of organic origin, there is no synthesised colour here; except maybe for harewoods which are darkened by soaking them in a weak iron (or ferrous) sulphate solution for a short period.

Most, if not all, of the Buchschmid and Gretaux works use their veneers in a completely natural condition, so the above warning should be carefully considered when placing or siting your Buchschmid and Gretaux piece.

We believe that certain wax polishes containing UV blockers or filters are available these days, but as we haven't tried using these ourselves we cannot obviously give you any endorsments as to their use, so, if you wish to try them, the choice is all yours.

But bear in mind that you will be experimenting on your own behalf, we have no idea or knowledge as to their reaction with, or on, the original varnish.

If you do wish to experiment, test it out first by applying a little of the wax polish to an unseen area underneath or on the back of the item and leave it for several weeks to see if there are any adverse reactions before you consider applying it to the main picture area.

If you have any questions for Otto, just click on the enquiry button on the right (or use the e-mail address below) and send your query in to us in the usual way, thank you.

ABC Studios ceased trading a few years after the demise of the Buchschmid and Gretaux Wood Inlay Company. It does not exist anymore.