When we received this piece, the original calfskin was replaced with fabric and the structure was unstable. Restoring it first required stabilization in order to reinforce the structure. The color and finish needed to be redone and we needed to remove the existing fabric. Then we had to cut wooden panels that would exactly fit the openings for the calfskin to sit on, to provide a stable base. The material is so sensitive to the environment that it will become crumbled and stretched with every weather change. It has to be mounted, a technique that Carlo Bugatti developed, and there are only specific glues that work with this skin and can hold it properly. After we mounted the skin, we looked at historical photos, and applied a mottled texture finish to match them. This is a paint technique in which you use a sponge and tap it to create the desired effect.