Planter’s Chair Conservation
Chest Conservation
Lollipop Chair Conservation
C.W. Parker Portland Horse
Erzulie Danthor Drapo Preservation
Draperies
Category Archives: preservation
Heirloom Child’s Chair
The chair came to us through the heiress (hereafter called LB) to the Frank Crowe Mason Monterey Collection. The sweet chair was made by her grandfather… Someone had recovered it, but thankfully the original stuffings were intact! She wanted it … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, restoration techniques, textiles, traditional varnishes
Tagged #childschair, #furnitureconservation, #heirloom, #pacificnorthwest, #portlandoregon, #upholsteryconservation, #UpholsteryPortlandOregon, #upholsteryrestoration, antiques, chair, Children's Furniture, conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, Interim Report, keepsake, legacy, Mason Monterey, MPF Conservation, Pacific Northwest, Portland, Portland Oregon, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon
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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
Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles
Tagged #angel, #beadedneedlepoint, #beadwork, #mpfconservation, #NativeAmericanBeadwork, #needlepointrepair, #pacificnorthwest, #portlandoregon, #tentstitch, #textileconservation, #textilerestoration, bead repair, bead work, conservation, needlepoint, needlepoint repair, preservation, tent stitch, Textile conservation, Victorian, woven beadwork, woven beadwork repair
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Repairing Trigger
Whether you are a fan or not, a unique look at repairing Trigger. Part 1 Part 2
Del Rey Dining Set: 1, Cleaning
Note: Some of the changes in color are due to using two cameras and different lighting! I bought a lovely Del Rey set owned by one family, and am getting it ready to sell it. (I forgot to photograph the … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, Interim Report, painted furniture, preservation, process, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged #californiafurniture, #californiastyle, #cattle, #delreyfurniture, #forsale, #masonmonterey, #Mexican, #palms, #palmtree, #ranchstyle, #southwest, #westernfurniture, burro, cactus, clean furniture, conservation, Del Rey, Del Rey furniture, donkey, Mason Monterey, painted furniture, Palm tree, restoration
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Victorian Firescreen Textile Treatment
This Victorian firescreen, circa 1890-1910, is a family heirloom, created from petitpoint, needlepoint, and cross-stitching, quite lovely when new. Originally it might have attached to a wooden or metal stand, standing in front of a fireplace to shield the family … Continue reading
Posted in conservation techniques, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, textiles
Tagged #artsandcrafts, #crossstitching, #silk, #textileconservation, #textilerestoration, #wool, arts and crafts, cleaning, cross-stitch, Firescreen, infill, linen, needlepoint, petitpoint, smoke, Textile conservation, tobacco, Victorian
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How to Talk to an Artisan or Contractor
*this teaching moment applies to many types of situations… nothing here intended to be derogatory — just silly sweeping generalizations and fiction!* You have a lovely valuable antique (above) worth $5000 that needs work. Here are several scenarios and what … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, CAUTIONS, conservation techniques, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques
Tagged conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, MPF Conservation, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Portland Oregon, preservation, process, reparation, restoration, restoration techniques, Upholstery Portland Oregon
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Lianne’s Linen Sampler Ca 1806
Lianne’s Great-great-great-GREAT grandmother, Hannah Epes, completed this sampler on June 26th, 1806, when she was 10 years old. It came to us in the sweet old handkerchief box her grandmother kept it in, above, a keepsake. I like hearing the … Continue reading
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
Posted in art, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, restoration techniques, textiles
Tagged banner, conservation techniques, gas station, gasoline banner, Interim Report, MPF Conservation, process, restoration, restoration techniques, Texaco Fire Chief, Textile conservation, washing textiles
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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
Posted in antiques, art, conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, mold, painted furniture, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged #bedsidetable, #conservationtechniques, #finishconservation, #finishrestoration, #frankmason, #juandurantinoco, #juantinoco, #leatherhandles, #masonmonterey, #montereyfurniture, #restorationteachniques, #smokeyivory, #smokeymaple, conservation, horses, restoration
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Process: Circus Ball 3
We left the Circus Ball as it had been prepped for its paint layers. I am so sorry that all my images of the ball sanded smooth are very blurry! Happily, the detailed images are in sharp! The first coat … Continue reading
Endangered Places 2016, The First Set
Thanks to Drew Nasto, Craig Powell, and for the various locations for allowing me to use historic images to place into sketch format to commemorate the projects! Kate is sketching many of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places for 2016 in a … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, house museums, preservation
Tagged art journal, buildings, Chateau, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, dkatiepowellart, Fort Rock, Jantzen Beach Carousel, Mason Monterey, MPF Conservation, Oregon Caves NM, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentel Brush Pen, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, preservation, QoR watercolors, Rivoli Theater, Super5 ink, watercolor, Wong Laundry Building
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Restoration Award Celebration Dinner, The Event
Thanks to Drew Nasto for letting me use his images to place into sketch format to commemorate the night! When an artist draws, we remember. When we draw details, we get to know our subjects intimately. The simple act of … Continue reading
Restoration Award Celebration Dinner, Kate’s Process
Mitchell and Kate attended the Restoration Celebration to raise money for the the 2016 Most Endangered Places, and to hear the winners of the 2015 Demuro Awards, as the guest of one of our clients, Karla Pearlstein of Restoring History. … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, history, house museums, preservation
Tagged art journal, buildings, dkatiepowellart, MPF Conservation, Portland Oregon, preservation, watercolor
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Process: Circus Ball 4
We left the Circus Ball with four layers of Gamblin Silver Oil Paint. Time to add the Cobalt Blue star! Who says one never uses High School math? Kate used Geometry to create the template for the proper sizes star. … Continue reading
Posted in conservation techniques, decorative motifs, Interim Report, painted objects, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged balance ball, circus ball, damage from chemical strips, dip and strip, Gamblin Oil Paint, no chemical stripping, repair, restoration, star
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Process: Circus Ball 2
Before I start showing you the restoration process, first let’s take a moment to marvel at this extraordinary ball. I rarely post full-size images, but the texture on this damaged ball is so beautiful, and the construction so extraordinary, that … Continue reading
The Sketchpack Project: MPF Conservation Tools
ABOUT SKETCHPACK: The project began in 2011. The original idea was to get folks to draw daily. The Sketchpack is a small zigzag journal with two usable sides, allowing one to sketch on both sides of 15 ‘pages’ to complete … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, funny funny, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, tailor, tools, upholstery, wooden objects
Tagged anvil, art journal, aum, beeswax, Berry's, bostitch, chalk chuck, chalk line, furniture, Grex, hart twine, headknife, Houles gimp trim, Houles Tassel, kitchen, leather punch, leather strap cutter, leather strap fence, lie-nielsen saw, MPF Conservation, om, passementerie, pincer, pincushion, pyrex, Sketchpack Project, staple remover, Staplegun, stick picker, upholstery tacks
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Process: Circus Ball!
The thing I love most about our business is that you never know what is going to roll into our studio for treatment! Earlier this year, a new client sent the images below, along with the image of his aunt … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, CAUTIONS, conservation techniques, history, Interim Report, painted furniture, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged balance ball, circus ball, damage from chemical strips, dip and strip, no chemical stripping, repair, restoration
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Process: Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Upholstery, 2 Show Cover
Continuing from the Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Upholstery, 1 Buildup post, (Or to begin at the beginning go here.) Buildup is complete, and we are ready to prepare the Show Cover of 4-5 oz. vegetable tanned strapping leather. Above, the … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, Interim Report, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery, wooden objects
Tagged 1910, antiques, arts and crafts, chair, conservation techniques, dye, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, Gustav Stickley, Interim Report, Ladderback Arm Chair, leather, MPF Conservation, Pacific Northwest, Portland, process, reparation, restoration techniques, show cover, strapping leather, traditional varnishes, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon, waxes, wooden objects and tagged 1900
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Process: Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Upholstery, 1 Buildup
Continuing from the Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Finish post, (Or to begin at the beginning go here.) The frame is repaired and the finish conserved; Buildup begins! Stickley chairs do not have dustcovers, and so the underside of the canvas … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, upholstery
Tagged 1910, antiques, arts and crafts, chair, conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, Gustav Stickley, Interim Report, Ladderback Arm Chair, MPF Conservation, Pacific Northwest, Portland, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, traditional varnishes, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon, wooden objects
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Process: Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Frame Repair
Continuing from the Excavation of the Gustav Stickley Ladderback Armchair (Or to begin at the beginning go here.) Reparation of the frame begins with more disassembly, on an as-needed basis for each chair. Corner blocks are removed, labeled, and screws … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, wooden objects
Tagged 1910, antiques, arts and crafts, chair, conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, Gustav Stickley, Interim Report, Ladderback Arm Chair, MPF Conservation, Pacific Northwest, Portland, process, reparation, restoration techniques, traditional varnishes, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon, waxes, wooden objects and tagged 1900
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Process: Gustav Stickley Ladderback Chair Excavation
We are continuing on in our process on the Gustav Stickley Ladderback Armchair. Chair before disassembly. To disassemble or excavate the upholstery we begin with the historic decorative nails. Mitchell created a handy hand-tool for getting under the historic nails … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, chair, conservation techniques, Interim Report, preservation, tools, upholstery, wooden objects
Tagged 1910, antiques, arts and crafts, chair, conservation techniques, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, Gustav Stickley, Interim Report, Ladderback Arm Chair, MPF Conservation, Pacific Northwest, Portland, process, reparation, restoration techniques, traditional varnishes, upholstery, Upholstery Portland Oregon, waxes, wooden objects and tagged 1900
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Quilts as a Microcosm of History
I am sure that more eloquent history writers than I have written on the role of quilts as historical objects. I want to share my perspective on the single object that we: see the most distress over condition issues, even … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, CAUTIONS, decorative motifs, history, musings, preservation, textiles
Tagged #antiquequiltrepair, #cigarquilt, #crazyquilt, #crewel, #crewelwork, #familyheirloom, #hand-sewn, #handsewn, #handstitched, #needlework, #nwportland, #pacificnorthwest, #portlandoregon, #quilt, #quiltcare, #quiltconservation, #quiltrepair, #quiltrestoration, #repairquilt, #textileconservation, #textilepreservation, #textilerestoration, #traditionalneedlework, #visiblemending
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Repairing Veneer on a Bombe in the Style of Louis XV
Before Repair, Above, and After, Below. This is a lovely bombe which had cracked veneer across the curved door faces. Someone had previously repaired it long before our current owners took possession. MPFC treated several areas, but I am posting … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, Interim Report, pigments, preservation, process, reparation, restoration techniques, shellac, wooden objects
Tagged Bombe, damaged veneer, finish, Louis XV, restoration, shellac
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Y is for Y?: A-to-Z Challenge
Y? We get asked a lot of questions that are subjective, and hard or even unethical to answer. Y do you cost more than Sally’s Upholstery shop or a national chain? First of all, it is unethical to badmouth other … Continue reading
Posted in conservation techniques, preservation, reparation, restoration techniques
Tagged DIY, questions
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T is for Textile: A-to-Z Challenge
©MPF Conservation. May be printed for your own use. May be reposted if our url +copyright is used as reference.
Posted in antiques, decorative motifs, preservation, textiles, upholstery
Tagged needlepoint, petitpoint, textile
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S is for Shellac Varnish Damage: A-to-Z Challenge
Damage to traditional shellac varnishes — original varnishes made from shellac, and possibly with additional resins such as dammar, etc. — is often preventable. We see several common and preventable mistakes owners make over and over again. Before stripping, call … Continue reading
Q is for Q-tips: A-to-Z Challenge
Okay, I am giving it away. My super secret cleaning tool. Q-tips Brand Cotton swabs and elbow grease. Sometimes, a bit of distilled water. That’s it. I cleaned the entire Marguerite McLoughlin Chinese Lacquer Sewing Cabinet using 10,000 Q-tips. Why … Continue reading
O is for Ode to the Upholsterer: A-to-Z Challenge
He’s stuffed a chair on every street, or hassocks on which to put your feet. A fainting couch for Ms Récamier, looking Grecian but really fey. A modern Egg for Madmen there, Took ten thousand hand stitches to be fair; … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, funny funny, musings, preservation, reparation, textiles, upholstery
Tagged Eastlake, egg, ode, passementerie, poem, traditional upholstery
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N is for Nails, as in the History of: A-to-Z-Challenge
A client had this wonderful old nail display from the Tremont Nail Factory in Massachusetts. We took pictures of it. This is the writing underneath the nails: “From Pennyweight to Penny (a small “d” indicates a penny) — Originally the … Continue reading
Posted in conservation techniques, preservation, restoration techniques
Tagged nails, pennyweight, Tremont Nail Factory
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M is for McLoughlin’s Melodeon: A-to-Z Challenge
John McLoughlin was the Father of Oregon, and his history is celebrated at the McLoughlin House in Oregon City. We conserved the Prince & Co. Melodeon he gave to his granddaughter, part of a larger collection housed at his home, … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, house museums, preservation, restoration techniques, shellac, traditional varnishes, wooden objects
Tagged #columbiariver, #conservationtechniques, #drfrasertolmie, #fatheroforegon, #giltbutterflies, #johnmcloughlin, #lacquercabinet, #margueritemcloughlin, #mcloughlinhouse, #melodeon, #musicalinstrument, #nps, #oregonhistory, #pacificnorthwest, #portlandoregon, #prince&comelodeon, #prince&company, #sewingcabinet, #woodenobjectconservation, piano
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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
J is for Jig: A-to-Z Challenge
Have you or your partner ever decided to fix a piece of furniture, thinking you could just glue it together? You glue it, maybe even clamp it, and it appears fine, but then you come back hours later to take … Continue reading
I is for Innards: A-to-Z Challenge
We had a call today from a prospective client who restored their récamier or fainting couch six years ago, with someone else. The news was sad. She had taken the piece to a local refinisher to have it refinished. The … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, preservation, restoration techniques, upholstery
Tagged fainting couch, Green Practices, historic, Horsehair, Organic, récamier
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H is for Hemp: A-to-Z Challenge
Today I will find out how many people look for articles on hemp! Of course, I’m not talking smoking it, medicinally or otherwise. We use it all the time in our business: hemp webbing, tapes, muslins, and the occasional stretchy … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, preservation, restoration techniques, textiles, upholstery
Tagged fiber, hemp, marijuana, maryjane, textiles, weed
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C is for Carnauba: A-to-Z Challenge
Carnauba is loved by car aficionados because it is a great wax that makes their cars shiny in the hot sun! The special properties in carnauba allow it to buff to a high sheen and stay put even in hot … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, preservation, restoration techniques, waxes, wooden objects
Tagged carnauba wax, furniture finishes, wax
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B is for Blacksmithing: A-to-Z Challenge
In our business we work with many specialty trades, and one of my favorites is blacksmithing. It is a macho cool thing to take steel and heat it and fashion it into usable parts, and a special talent to be … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, preservation, process, restoration techniques, Spanish Furniture
Tagged blacksmith, nails, restoration
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A is for Algerian: A-to-Z Challenge
Most modern upholsterers create their cushions and backs and arms using limited materials: various foams, and Dacron® or cotton batting. Occasionally they will use feathers and downs. Traditional upholstery uses many different kinds of stuffing: Palm: algerian (palm leaf fiber) … Continue reading
Posted in conservation techniques, preservation, restoration techniques, upholstery
Tagged algerian, coir, down, feathers, flax, hemp, linen, organic cotton, spanish moss, stuffings, traditional upholstery
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A-to-Z Reveal: Conserving and Restoring Antiques!
It is hard for me to categorize our blog posts during this challenge. Lifestyle? Not craft, for we are a bit beyond what a crafty person can do as conservationists. We’ll be writing about the behind the scenes look at … Continue reading
Mixing Rhoplex™ and Micro-crystalline Balloons Teaches Patience!
Just a short post of the wonder of mixing micro-crystalline balloons into Rhoplex™. Whenever I do this I have to slow way down, and practice patience, which is not one of my virtues. Currently we have this lovely Louis XIV … Continue reading
Introducing PastCast: A New Podcast for People Who Save Places
An exciting new blog is starting: PastCast, for people who save places: “We’re excited to announce the debut episode of PastCast, a show for the people who save places! (Hint: That’s you.) Our mission is to bring you great stories … Continue reading
Pins and Needles: Moving the Berkey & Gay Buffet
by DKP This one piece has nearly given me ulcers worrying about the move. It weighs as much as an elephant, and while the backsplash comes off, it is still HUGE, bulky, and unwieldy. The men who moved her are … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, musings, News, preservation, process, restoration techniques
Tagged American furniture, Berkey & Gay, Buffet, cupid, Dutch, Dutch Blue Guard, Germanic, Grand Rapids Furniture, High relief carved, High Renaissance Revival, lamb, moving day, sheep
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Process: German Gothic Revival Fauteuil ca. 1860
by DKP A family heirloom, this piece made it from Germany to the USA intact, but did not fare well from Oklahoma to Oregon, and was damaged by movers who did not pack nor handle the chair properly. This was … Continue reading
Process: American Empire Seignouret Chair Ca. 1830
by DKP This is a lovely family heirloom, an American Empire Seignouret Chair made in New York. It had a soiled needlepoint seat, a seat that was dropping through, and the frame finish needed treatment and preservation. The chair was … Continue reading
Process: Chippendale Camelback Settee Upholstery
by DKP This came to us a badly damaged sentimental family heirloom. The settee buildup was carefully excavated, the frame disassembled, the broken parts (arm, shoulder) were repaired and replaced. The original innards were cleaned and used to rebuild the … Continue reading
More Mid-Century + Modern Projects Around the Pacific Northwest by MPF Conservation
by DKP I am having lots of fun doing slide shows of our previous projects, which are diverse. Here are many Mid-Century Modern and Modern Classic projects from our files since we were liberated from old film cameras to digital … Continue reading
East Lake Sofa-Bed Upholstery #4C: Mattress Buildup Continued
by DKP We had the opportunity to conserve the wonderful Eastlake style sofa-bed by A. Hansen Co., Chicago, Ill., below. Our client restored a Victorian in NE Portland, and this sofa-bed will grace her office. This is the seventh post … Continue reading
Posted in antiques, conservation techniques, preservation, process, restoration techniques, upholstery
Tagged A. Hansen 1878 Chicago, arts and crafts, convertible sofa, East Lake, Eastlake, Furniture Conservation, Furniture Restoration, parlor furniture, Sofa-bed, Sofabed, Upholstery Portland Oregon, Victorian furniture
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