Welcome

Alec Anness Antique Furniture Restoration and Instrument Maker. Quality Restoration and Bespoke Handmade Furniture made In the Cambridgeshire Fens. Based in the Cambridgeshire Fens I design and make furniture to specification, veneering and marquetry, woodturning and carving. Maker and supplier of fitted furniture.

Restoration, Polishing and Instrument Making Services

Here is a list of some of the services I provide, if there is something specific that you require please contact me , I will be pleased to help if I can. Furniture Restoration - Professional restoration of quality furniture, Cabinet Making - Bespoke pieces made to order. French Polishing - Top quality French polishing. Repolishing Piano cases a speciality. Wood Turning - The skilled work of cutting wood to shape as it is spun round in a lathe. Instrument Making - 5 String and Tenor Banjos, Chromatic and Diatonic harps, Hammer Dulcimers, Re-stringing and flight cases.

Alec Anness- Restorer and Instrument Maker

I've had an interest in all things made of wood before beginning my working career, this extends also to my love of making and playing stringed instruments.
I trained as a cabinet repairer and French polisher of pianos for a locally based business in Cambridge, followed by several other jobs in the furniture trade which led to my interest in antique furniture, making and design.
My last position before setting up on my own business was that of restorer and polisher for an antique restoration company again based in Cambridge.
My business begun in May 1975, since then I have never looked back. I've always had more than enough work, most of which has been by personal recommendation and trade referrals.
Restoration is still my bread and butter but I'm also known for my high quality bespoke handmade furniture, anything from walnut reading stands to large dining tables and bookcases. I dont not employ anyone, all work and commissions go through my hands only, ensuring a constant high standard of workmanship.
I also design and make hand crafted musical instruments, namely Banjos, Chromatic and Diatonic Autoharps plus Hammered Dulcimers. Most are built to order.
Although I do not have a shop I do buy and sell furniture. I've always got a stock of mainly small pieces some in need of restoration others ready for sale. If I don't have an item I can often source via contacts in the trade.

The finest quality handmade harps made in the UK

I've played the Autoharp since the age of seventeen. In the mid 1960s little was known about the instrument in this country or how to play it. My first influence as I recall was probably Bill Clifton, Mike Seeger, Tom Paley and of course The Carter Family. I must, even then had the idea to build harp, as recently I came across a drawing in an old note book along with songs I was performing at the time. It's taken me all these years to finally build harps encouraged by members of UK Autoharps. All my harps are made from the finest quarter sawn tone woods. Soundboards can be made in quarter sawn Sitka Spruce or Mahogany. The one piece tuning pin blocks are also made of quarter sawn laminated Beech or Maple.
My harps are much lighter in weight than most being built today. This is due to my specially designed frame and strutting. The harp body is jig built with a backward bend to compensate for the string tension.This makes for a very stable harp and gives the soundboard down bearing. Fine tuners: A must have these days, made by a local precision engineer.
The custom made strings on my harps are also made in the U K to my specification. Inlay bandings and boxwood stringings for Custom Builds. Custom Built Chromatic / Diatonic Autoharps from around £ 995-00 and a top of the range model £1900-00 All my harps are hand finished in either semi-matt or gloss French Polish.

Trading Since

1974