Why do museums protect marquetry furniture from sunlight?

Museums protect marquetry furniture from sunlight since veneer colours fade over time. Wood reacts strongly to ultraviolet light, heat, and dry air. Satinwood can darken and rosewood may lose deep red tones. Dyed veneers from the 1700s often fade unevenly after long exposure and museum conservators keep many galleries at controlled humidity levels near 50 per cent, as temperature changes can loosen glue joints and lift veneers from the base wood. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London studies furniture condition through regular inspections and light measurements as some marquetry pieces rest behind glass barriers for extra protection. Conservators use tiny brushes, heated tools, and special glues during repair work and restoration can take months for one cabinet. Floods, fire, insects, and careless polishing have destroyed many antique surfaces through past centuries. Furniture from royal palaces survived more often than ordinary household pieces. Collectors today avoid placing antique marquetry near radiators, fireplaces, or south-facing windows, as stable room conditions help old veneers survive far longer.