Sanding through a lockdown

While lockdown has been a period of downtime for some, woodworker and restorer William Cottrell has been hard at work restoring a native wood sideboard from 19th century Aotearoa. It's just as well he had seven weeks, it's no small task restoring 19th century wooden furniture, but it's an effort that has become a lifelong passion for WIlliam. He's spent the last few decades finding and returning hundreds of native wood pieces to life, many of which now grace government buildings and museums. There are over 70 in Te Papa alone and he's currently writing a book for Te Papa Press about the stories of our furniture, and the journey of restoration.