Case Studies, Guides and Advice, Oil Paintings, Useful articles
Moving house can be a stressful time for anyone; this experience was made even more difficult for one of our clients after their artwork was damaged by a removal company. Two highly cherished and sentimental paintings were substantially damaged – this was even harder to see after they had been entrusted to a company for… Read more »
When an oil painting has issues with its paint layer, it can give the painting a very unsightly appearance. Such issues are very common for oil paintings, and every week we treat artworks which have problems with the paint layer. It can be very distressing for art collectors to see such issues occurring – especially… Read more »
There is no greater cause of distress for ceramic collectors when their unique ornaments are damaged and end up in pieces. This happened very recently for one of our clients whose precious Goldscheider figurine had severely snapped in multiple places. The figurine is of a young girl with a lamb. It is a very rare… Read more »
Accidental damage to oil paintings comes in many forms; spillages and stains on artworks are very common and can happen so easily. For many of our clients, the damage is not of their own doing but has instead happened while renting out their home or while work has taken place. Examples of substances we have… Read more »
Case Studies, Guides and Advice, Useful articles, Watercolour
When a watercolour has foxing, looking back at the before and after photographs is always fascinating to see the difference we’ve achieved from the restoration. Even when a watercolour is completely covered in marks, there is always something that can be done. You’d be forgiven for thinking when you see the before photos below that… Read more »
As we approach the end of the year, we’ve taken an interesting look back over the many restoration projects we have had the pleasure to complete in 2019. From tears and missing canvas to water damage and foxing, we have treated all manner of artworks, ceramics and furniture this year. Here are some highlights from… Read more »
Case Studies, Guides and Advice, Useful articles, Watercolour
Alongside foxing and tears, acid-staining is another very common issue for works-on-paper. The problem stems from when acidic and inappropriate backing materials have been used by the artist or framer, and subsequently, pollutants have leached out into the artwork. Unsuitable materials will have been used for paintings of a certain age when the effects of… Read more »
We enjoy answering many different questions from our clients and those interested in restoration. After all, it’s a fascinating field to be involved in and we like being able to share our expertise. One question we have been asked recently is whether surface cleaning an oil painting will cause damage. This is an understandable concern… Read more »
It is always a privilege for our team to be able to preserve items which have special historical significance. This was the case recently when we restored a 1940 army beret that was in need of cleaning and restoration. The beret is very special to our client, who wished to have a sympathetic restoration focused… Read more »
Recently a client approached us with a collection of 39 etchings that he had great concern over. Not only did each of the etchings suffer from foxing and acidic contamination, but they were also being contained within two very old and frail portfolios that were barely intact. For art collectors, their primary and understandable concern… Read more »
While contemporary artworks are susceptible to all of the same damage as older paintings, they can also incur specific problems due to being new artworks, and after being crafted using modern techniques and materials. It is still wholly possible to treat issues with contemporary paintings for a range of ailments, such as repairing tears and… Read more »
For many art collectors, the worst-case scenario for the condition of their artworks would be if they were damaged through water, fire or a bad accident. Unfortunately, such incidents do happen and requires the need for artworks to be removed from the scene promptly and safely. We are always able to suitably package such items… Read more »
Guides and Advice, Useful articles, Watercolour, Works On Paper
It is always a fascinating source of interest for our clients and art collectors to see how we repair watercolours and works-on-paper. It is understandable to assume there is little or nothing that can be done to fix such fragile items. Although these are naturally delicate items, repairs are still possible and very successful. So… Read more »
It can sometimes seem very obvious why an artwork needs restoration. If a painting has a tear, you know it needs repaired. Or if an artwork is so dirty you can no longer see specific details, you know it needs cleaned. This is indeed correct, but when a painting arrives into our studio, instead of… Read more »
Guides and Advice, Useful articles, Watercolour, Works On Paper
If you’ve ever wondered if there is anything that can be done to restore watercolours and works-on-paper, you certainly aren’t alone. It is an understandable concern to wonder whether these artworks are too fragile and thin to have work undertaken on them, but with the right care and appropriate treatments, works-on-paper can be restored just… Read more »
Every painting we work on in the studio has a unique identity. Whether it’s a signature we find while cleaning, an interesting note on the back of the canvas, or a clear sign of where part of an artwork has been painted over, there is always something of interest that tells the story of a… Read more »
What would you do if your precious ceramic item was broken into many pieces? That was a question faced by one of our recent clients when a vintage cigar ashtray was accidentally damaged. Instead of being one complete intact ashtray as it had been moments earlier, it was now broken into 10 jagged pieces. Quite… Read more »
Last week, we received an urgent email from one of our clients. Their painting had been stored in a cardboard box, waiting to be unpacked when an accident left flooding in their home. The cardboard understandably did nothing to protect the artworks, and our client was very distressed. So what should you do if your… Read more »
