Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Mar 30, 2006 06:54am | #1

   Alcohol based dye can be rather fugitive and could be the source of fading.  Cherry wood tends to darken with sun and time, though an old piece can reverse the pattern and fade in enough sun. If that's the case I would likely finded a more shaded spot to keep it and chalk it up to being part of the history of the piece. 

   If you want to repair the fading, you could strip the entire piece, sand the cherry enough to be past the fading and add a new top coat.  A major task, even if the top coat is lacquer.  If lacquer you can remove it by flooding on lacquer thinner and wiping off the dissolved finish with a maroon synthetic steel wool pad. 

   I still don't feel I am understanding the full picture, but you haven't provided much to go on.