Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - can wood fibers be 'fluffed'?

Got a gorgeous old cherry antique string bed at auction. Has ball finials that with aging have cracked a bit (the wood, not the just the finish - I think). I don't want to refinish the whole piece but would like to confine my attention to the finials. Is there any way to fluff up or say 'reengorge' those wood fibers so that the cracks disappear? I've heard of people hitting old wood with a combination of boiling hot water and linseed oil. Has anyone ever attempted this? Any ideas?

Also, the headboard has some horizontal cracks that extend across the whole piece. I want to stabilize it. Can I just screw on some brass plates from behind? Or should I go ahead and break off the loose section, glue it and reattach it (probably still with brass plates spanning the crack)?

Sue

Have never heard of 'fluffing' wood as you describe. I have steamed dents out of wood, but always filled cracks.

As far as the back is concerned, I'd think long and hard about trying to reglue the pieces for a better fit. The wood has shrunk, or it wouldn't have split. If you draw those two pieces together you're liable to have another gap somewhere else.

As far as stabilizing the back is concerned, put a coat (or two) of finnish on the back of the piece - the part against the wall. This is the reason the wood split in the first place -one side was finished, allowing no moisture penetration; the other side wasn't. Over time the variance in moisture content between the two sides split the board. Sealing it completely will prevent it going any further.