restore
if it were just the edges or an inconsequential area or two I would leave it be. I believe the overall aethetics are negatively impacted by the placement of some the damage in a central area and it would bother me. I rarely restore anything and after an experiential lesson or two only buy something needing restoration when it is INEXPENSIVE as conservation comes at a pretty steep price (often 100.-200. an hour).
For your peace of mind true conservation allows for the item to be returned to the state it was in before doing the work. I had 3/4 pieces done by GCC in the mid to late 90's (actually based on Bill Mastro's personal recomendation) and honestly they did a superior job.
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