Category Archives: art

Mark Adams’ “RANUCULUS” Tapestry Conservation

Above, front of the tapestry before treatment. We had the pleasure of conserving the wonderful floral Mark Adams Tapestry named Ranuculus, shown above.  The tapestry is 70 inches wide x 78 inches tall. Mark Adams was born in Fort Plain, … Continue reading

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MINIATURE SEDAN CHAIR “VITRINE”

Our restoration of the Miniature Sedan Chair Vitrine ca 18th century was seriously limited for many reasons. The piece was a beloved sentimental family object. Shown right, the vitrine in an image taken by our client years before. We are … Continue reading

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Suzi Piegols’ Textile

Above, the piece after conservation. I had the privilege to repair and conserve a portion of this unusual textile artwork created by Suzi Piegols, a well-known Oregon textile artist, shown left with a quilted piece of her own. I wish … Continue reading

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CW Parker Carousel, Chariot Benches

(Swipe to see the cats discovering the pony!) “Whoa… who put this here?” Savitri. “Hey, there’s a critter in the studio!”  Gibbs… “He’s not a cat….But he’s a cheery fella!  Just my size!” It is a shame the C.W.Parker Carousel … Continue reading

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Hunzinger “Lollipop” Chair, 3 Finish

Our armchair, affectionately known as the “lollipop” chair, was made circa 1880.  George Jakob Hunzinger (born 1835 in Tuttingen, Germany), was a progressive designer out of New York who was often influenced in his designs by machinery; their geometry and … Continue reading

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Hunzinger “Lollipop” Chair, 2 Frame Reparation

  Our armchair, affectionately known as the “lollipop” chair, was made circa 1880.  George Jakob Hunzinger (born 1835 in Tuttingen, Germany), was a progressive designer out of New York who was often influenced in his designs by machinery; their geometry … Continue reading

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Biltmore Bellows

Our client purchased one of the bellows from the Biltmore historic collection.  While in good condition, it had issues which he wanted repaired.  The bellows was not to be used everyday, but he did want it to be usable. In … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Final Details

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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End of the 2021 + Holidays

We are happy to see the back of 2021 in so many ways! It’s been a tough couple of years, trying to do business during Covid, with shortages in staffing and materials in many vendor businesses, and also, some people … Continue reading

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Looking Back at 2020 and Covid Delays

In hindsight, what we did to cope during the early days of Covid. We had to think of ways to reuse items that should be disposable…  It was impossible, for instance, to get gloves.  Most places made you register as … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Upholstery Buildup, Back and Arms

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The textile was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Upholstery Buildup, Seat

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Frame Reparation

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. The tapestry was cleaned and small reparations performed. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Cleaning Textiles

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, above. We started, as we always do, with an assessment. Then patterns were made and the textile and buildup was excavated. The  frame finish was conserved. Be sure to run your cursor over images … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Finish

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above.  We … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Excavation and Patterns

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above, though … Continue reading

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Chinese Diorama Table, 2

Continuing from the first post of our client’s Chinese carved diorama from the nineteenth century, we move now to the reparation of the figurines and decorative elements. Phase Three, Reparation We used two glues, hide (we use only Old Brown … Continue reading

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Chinese Diorama Table, 1

Our client’s Chinese carved diorama from the nineteenth century is one of the most delightful items I’ve had the pleasure to treat.  It is a pavilion over water, with big rocks with large trees of varying sorts along the base. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil, Assessment

Our client’s Louis XIV Revival Fauteuil from the nineteenth century came in for treatment of the textile (gentle cleaning, and stabilizing from the back), conservation of original finish, and conservation of the upholstery buildup (innards). Before treatment images above, though … Continue reading

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Treatment: Portrait of 
Marie-Antoinette

Before and after treatment, above. Our client’s framed oil painting of Marie-Antoinette fell off the wall and was scraped in two dozen areas. Luckily there were no punctures, but a half-dozen dents or serious scraps created a need for wax/resin … Continue reading

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Dutch Spindleback Ca 1600

Edit, update from Mitchell: “The chair featured in this article is very old. It was probably well into it’s use at the time Henry Hudson first made his way up the river which became his namesake.  It was originally a … Continue reading

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Yves Telemak Beaded Voudo Textile: Ezilí Dantor

This beaded sequined textile by Yves Telemak was one of the most delightful projects I have worked on! Intricate folk art, with thousands of sequins and pearls each with a tiny seed bead! And the colors!  Modern art and folk … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Chest, 3, Veneer and Finish

We move now to Veneers and Finish! Previous posts on the Louis XIV chest can be found: 1, Woodworking; and 2, Pest Infestations. Veneer for amendments was created by MPFC ahead of time for the project, as it was thicker … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Chest, 2, Pest Infestations

The chest of drawers is a seventeenth century French Louis XIV, shown above after treatment in its full glory. We continue from the previous post on the Louis XIV Chest, 1, Woodworking. This post covers samples of treatment for pest infestation. … Continue reading

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Louis XIV Chest, 1, Woodworking

The chest of drawers is a seventeenth century French Louis XIV, shown above after treatment in its full glory. The drawers are wide and deep, and one can imagine a wealthy woman having a lovely chest to place long full … Continue reading

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JBC: White Patriotic Jumper Treatment, Knees and Thighs

Our White Patriotic Jumper had repairs to be made on the tail, the tail-to-leg connection, all four legs, and his belly. When these repairs were completed, we could treat surface repairs and finish. The White Patriotic Jumper is a sample … Continue reading

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JBC: White Patriotic Jumper Treatment, Tail, Part II

Our White Patriotic Jumper had repairs to be made on the tail, the tail-to-leg connection, all four legs, and his belly. When these repairs were completed, we could treat surface repairs and finish. The White Patriotic Jumper is a sample … Continue reading

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JBC: White Patriotic Jumper Treatment, Tail, Part I

Our White Patriotic Jumper had repairs to be made on the tail, the tail-to-leg connection, all four legs, and his belly. When these repairs were completed, we could treat surface repairs and finish. The White Patriotic Jumper is a sample … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

A Visit with the Doc, or Carousel Horse Assessment

As promised, an explanation of our assessment process, and of course, a horse is so much more interesting than a building part! Terri is a beloved horse from the Jantzen Beach Carousel; locals have fond memories of her! Terri is … Continue reading

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Jantzen Beach Carousel Assessment Process

As we’ve probably said we were hired to assess the current status of the decorative parts of the Jantzen Beach Carousel. (Another firm is estimating the status of the mechanical and housing parts.) The carousel has been in storage since … Continue reading

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Textile Conservation: Victorian Tea Cosy

We have several interesting textile projects in the studio this year, and one of the most challenging is this Victorian Tea Cosy for a private client who has generously allowed the process to be shared. There are five posts to … Continue reading

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JBC: Virtual Sketching!

Carousel horses have always delighted, even in the midst of virtual games and E-ticket rides; most of us don’t stop and look at them, but are seduced by the Wurlitzer calling to us, and the color and the action and … Continue reading

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Happy Valentine’s Day

  Happy Day! Love is in the air in the stable! He’s grinning cuz he’s in need of lots of TLC and this is the place to get it! Poor Stargazer is chipped and broken and oh my, he is … Continue reading

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Parker Ponies

People don’t realize how tiny the Parker ponies are; I can just about carry one under my arm! I found a good way to show you… Letting the studio cats in for a visit with Pinto Pony (he’s got the … Continue reading

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Good Monday Morning!

“Good Morning!” Yup, we talk to them, saying good morning when we come in… I’ll worry when they start talking back! Water Spirit Dappled Grey Horse from the Jantzen Beach Carousel… Did you have a favorite?     Written by … Continue reading

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Hunzinger “Lollipop” Chair, 1 Excavation

Our armchair, affectionately known as the “lollipop” chair, was made circa 1880.  George Jakob Hunzinger (born 1835 in Tuttingen, Germany), was a progressive designer out of New York who was often influenced in his designs by machinery; their geometry and … Continue reading

Posted in antiques, art, chair, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Fu Dogs Treatment

Our client brought his small carved wooden guardian dogs to us for treatment. Pairs of Chinese guardian lion statues are decorative, symbolic elements at the entrances to structures in many Asian countries.  Each is different, and should come in. pairs, … Continue reading

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Modern Textile Art is Often Not Created for Conservation

One of the biggest challenges in conservation is when the artists were not thinking about their pieces being loved and collected, and eventually, cleaned and conserved, and work in mediums that are experimental (as in the case of early acrylics). … Continue reading

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Chinese Statue Conservation Treatment

Two polychrome statues, one whose hand was previously repaired incorrectly. Both were quite dirty. Our job was to remove the poor repair, repair it correctly, and clean and stabilize the finish on both statues.   The treatment was a mixture of … Continue reading

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Textile Conservation: Victorian Beaded Angel Needlepoint

One of the sweetest pieces we ever treated. A widow had several items conserved for the children in the family. This lovely beaded needlepoint had many condition issues: dozens of moth-eaten areas, ripped or broken canvas, a good deal of … Continue reading

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Frances Normandin’s Bell Hanger

Frances Normandin, great-grandmother to our clients, designed and created the needlework bell hanger (ca 1930-1940) as a gift for her 15-year-old son,  Fred Louis Normandin, Jr., or “Bub.”  Fred was named after his father, the first grocer in the Mount … Continue reading

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Washington State Flag, Mixing Paint

I created test sheets for oil versions of George. Two coats of shellac seals the paper for the oil paint. It is nice to use up old shellac which can no longer be used on furniture! Phthalo Green and Chromium … Continue reading

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Labor Day in the Finish Studio

A post from dkatiepowellart… also Kate from MPF Conservation! Labor Day weekend and we are laborers so we are working… We have new A/C and I have a new lease on life in my newly cleaned and reorganized studio! I … Continue reading

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Texaco Fire Chief Gasoline Banner

Growing up in Southern California, the home of the automobile, I remember fondly this emblem as a kid! The Texaco Fire Chief Banner was in excellent condition, but dirty and creased. The back appeared to have been dropped into dirt, … Continue reading

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Conservation of Mason Monterey Tinoco Bedside Stand

We conserved and restored a Mason Monterey side table with the charming, humorous and valuable Juan Tinoco horses on the drawer front. Our client’s budget determined our scope of work. The table top was warped, lifting on both sides from … Continue reading

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K is for Ken Ellis’s Embroidered Textile Art: A-to-Z Challenge

We had the pleasure to conserve two pieces of Ken Ellis’ textile art for a private collector: the Shore Family, above, and Elizi Danto, bottom.  It was a simple treatment, to clean as best we could some staining from a … Continue reading

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