John Swahn is the owner and master craftsman at Niki Francis Antique Restorations located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Niki Francis Antique Restorations has worked for over 5000 clients in the Philadelphia area since it opened in 1993. They are a certified member of the Restoration Centers Hotline referral network. He is also a member of the Claims Prevention and Procedures Council, British Furniture Restorers Association, and listed with AntiqueRestorers.com. He is one of the founders and former head of the International Restorers Guild, UK. Mr. Swahn has also consulted with Sotheby’s Restorations Studios (Billingshurst, West Sussex, UK), The Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK) and the Smithsonian (Washington, DC, USA). His work can be seen in museums such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA, USA) and the Statens Historiska Museum (Museum of National Antiquities, Stockholm, Sweden), as well as many regional estates. Mr. Swahn has been involved in the restoration arts for the past 32 years. Starting as an apprentice for an upholsterer in late seventies he has devoted his life to learning as much as possible about the restoration arts. Over the years he has studied the chemistry, techniques and methods involved in wood finishing, cabinetry, porcelain and china restorations, seat weaving, onsite touch-up and furniture repair, painting restorations, gilding and textiles. He has also studied construction methods and materials used by different cabinet makers and periods of history.