Services

THE TYPES OF SERVICES OFFERED

  1. CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF ART OBJECTS

    Repair and restoration of objects necessitates professional care with a knowledge of technology, historical styles and of the chemistry of materials.
    The owner of an item specifies its intended function; i.e., to be housed in a glass case; to be used for display only, but placed where it may be handled; to be returned to normal use; to be used out of doors; etc.
    The recommendation for structural treatment (consolidation, cementing, reinforcing) will be based on the object’s intended use. Only one course of action is usually suggested, but there may be options.
    In the matter of cosmetic or decorative treatment, several choices are offered so that an owner may have a utilitarian piece or an object of purely sentimental value treated without having to pay for the most extensive and expensive decorative work. The following is a summary of the usual choices.

    • Level I: Structural treatment only. Join lines will be left as bonded or consolidated (archaeological conservation).
    • Level II: Bonding, filling and/or coloring of chips, nicks or holes (as specified). Time will be devoted to smoothing fills, in matching the colors, and in replacing missing design. The repairs will be visible from a distance of two to three feet, but not be obvious or obtrusive to most people; some people may, however, be troubled.
    • Level III: Bonding, filling, sculpting and coloring of missing parts. In this case more time will be spent on cosmetic work to more completely conceal repaired areas. We do not consider even this cosmetic grade of work to make the repairs invisible or like new.

    The objective at all levels is to ensure the object is structurally sound even before any cosmetic work is done.

    THE STUDIO’S PHILOSOPHY OF CONSERVATION / RESTORATION:

    In consideration of the integrity of the object, there are times when we feel we must refuse to cover any of the original or to reconstruct a missing part where the form is pure speculation and would therefore be unethical. This situation will usually arise when working with porous objects from which applied decoration cannot be readily removed without damage to the original substrate or surface (irreversible procedures).

    Your objects are treated exactly the same whether they are priceless valuables or family heirlooms with only sentimental value.

  2. MOUNT FABRICATIONSWe can design bases and internal and external supports for displaying your artifacts. They are made from steel, Plexiglas, wood, and brass. Then they are fauxed to blend in with the coloration of the artifact so as to render the support as unobtrusive as possible. The bases are created to add stability and weight (lowering the center of gravity of top heavy objects). Added bonus — psychologically, your objects gain importance in the eyes of viewers.
  3. CONSULTATION (ON SITE) ON THE DISPLAY OF FRAGILE OBJECTS, ESPECIALLY IN “EARTHQUAKE” AREAS.
  4. PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL LECTURES TO GROUPS ON RESTORATION, CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF HEIRLOOMS AND FRAGILE PERSONAL VALUABLES.
  5. EVALUATION AND ESTIMATION OF DAMAGES FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS.

 

We are recommended restorers for LLADRO, HUMMEL and SWAROVSKI. To add to your collection of retired lladro objects, visit www.aretiredcollection.com.

We accept shipments from all parts of the world and can provide references from as far away as Korea, Brazil, Canada and Japan etc. . Click here for shipping address and instructions.

The Restoration Studio reserves the right to use information and photographs of objects for the purposes of research, teaching and inclusion on our website. The owner will remain anonymous in all situations.

Auctioneer Breaks $1 Millon Vase… (46 second video)