What Happens When You Bring Us an Object
1. Get in touch and send photographs
Email us a few photographs, including the front, the back, and close-ups of anything that worries you. Tell us what you know about it: where it came from, roughly how old it is, how it's been stored, and what you'd like to be able to do with it. Photographs are a starting point which often allow us to know if we're the right people to help.
2. Examination
We look at the object in person and document its condition in writing and in photographs. This is where we document the materials used and the current condition. The examination fee is $50, and it comes off the cost of treatment if you decide to go ahead.
3. Treatment proposal
You get a written proposal covering what we recommend, why, what it will cost and roughly how long it will take. When there's more than one sensible approach, we lay out the options for you and we'll tell you plainly what we don't recommend and what we can't fix. Nothing happens to the object until you've said yes.
4. Treatment
Every object is different and requires tailored treatment. Depending on the object, that might mean surface cleaning, washing, stain reduction, mending tears, removing old tape or adhesive, flattening, consolidation or lining. There are situations when an object has irreversible damage, and treatment is not an option. If something unexpected turns up once we're underway, we stop and talk to you before carrying on. If treatment is approved, every step is documented as we go.
5. Documentation and return
You get a written treatment report with before and after photographs. It's a permanent record of what was done and it should remain with the object. If housing or matting is part of the job, it comes back in its new enclosure with guidance on storing and displaying it.
Conservation and restoration aren't the same thing
Restoration often sets out to make an object look new. On the contrary, conservation prioritizes stabilizing an object and extending its life. In practice that means selectively choosing quality materials and methods that can often be reversed if needed and documenting every treatment conducted.
Sometimes we'll advise against a treatment option because it may further damage the object. We'll always explain why.
What it costs and how long it takes
There's no standard price list, because no two objects present the same problems. Cost comes down to how complex the treatment is rather than how big or valuable the object is. A single tear repair and a full washing and lining are very different treatments.
The $50 examination gets you a written proposal with clear costs and expectations before you commit to anything.
Common Questions
Should I clean it up before I bring it in?
Please don't. Surface dirt, old repairs and previous framing are all evidence, and they tell us what the object has been through. Cleaning at home is a common way objects get damaged.
Do I bring it in person or ship it?
We offer pick-up and transport of your objects directly to our studio, within a reasonable distance. If shipping is the only option, get in touch first and we'll talk you through packing it.
How long does treatment take?
There's no single answer. One object can take ten minutes to treat while another takes forty hours. We'll give you a realistic timeframe in the written proposal, once we've seen it.
Can you tell me what it's worth?
No, and it's worth knowing why. Appraisal and conservation are separate professions, and there's a clear conflict of interest in valuing an object you're being paid to work on. We can point you toward an appraiser.
Can this be saved, or is it too far gone?
There's almost always something that can be done, though not always the thing you were hoping for. Initial photographs and a condition assessment can help discern this.
Can you get old tape off?
Usually, yes. Pressure-sensitive tape is one of the most common problems we see. How much of the staining comes with it depends on how long it's been there and what the adhesive has done to the paper underneath, which is something we can only tell you after looking at it.
Do you work on books?
Not bookbinding or book restoration. We do treat individual leaves, plates and documents, and we advise on books containing hazardous materials. We can point you to a book conservator.
Is my object insured while you have it?
Yes, we have several options to keep your object(s) insured while in our care. We still advise clients use their own private fine art insurance if they have it.