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How We Work With You

1. Call for an appointment

2. Bring your painting to our studio.

3. After examination we will suggest a treatment such as:

 

removal of yellowed varnish

 

smoke or water damage

 

repair of holes and tears

 

structural damage water repair

 

paint loss and flaking

 

We work with historic raw pigments.

 

 From time to time we have museum interns

working in the studio.

   

BEFORE & AFTER EXAMPLE: This seventeenth century painting had been previously "restored" (left image) using wallpaper paste lining to adhere a linen backing to the painting.  The adhered lining shrank creating disfiguring undulations on the surface.  The lining was removed (lower right image) and the painting cleaned of dulling overpaint, varnish, and airborn grime restoring the colors to their former vibrancy. 

    

During treatment undulations were reversed on a heated suction vacuum table.  (Right  Image) The flawed previous restoration backing material was removed from the canvas. (Left Image) The fabric had rotted and shrunk due to the high water content of wallpaper paste, and was deforming the front of the painting. Please view the restored painting (Upper Right) after conservation treatment.

 

Our Studio

 

Our studio includes a variety of equipment to carry out our treatments. Microscopes, heated suction tables, and treatment chemicals and solvents provide us with the proper methods for examining, testing and treating your work of art.  Security for the studio and its content is also taken very seriously. A twenty-four hour surveillance system ensures the safety of your work of art.

  • Antique Paintings

    Antique Paintings  have some very special needs due to the passage of time. Art Conservation goes beyond the mere restoration of the appearance of an object it also encompasses the preservation and history of our heritiage. Please view some Before & After examples below:

     

    Before 

    The painting of the rooster had extreme crackle, and the paint was lifting from the ground support
     After

    The painting had been re-lined on a vacuum table.  A clear surface coating was applied after cleaning which enhanced the vibrant colors
    Before

    This 18th Century portrait was water damaged, and the pigments had been eaten by mold
     
    After

    The portrait was cleaned and stabilized.  Inpainting was performed with historic pigments
     
     Before
    This sea-scape was painted on a wooden panel, and the lead ground was cupping and flaking due to expansion and contraction of the wood
     After
    The painting was cleaned of nicotine and yellowing varnish.  The cupping paint was laid down and flattened onto the support and secured with molten conservation adhesive.

    Before 

    		 After 

     

    Tue, November 16, 2010 (No comments)
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