Art Mediums for Restoration

Fine Art Restoration Portland Oregon
Fine art comes in all forms
We are fine art restorers specializing in bringing fine art of every kind back to its original beauty and magnificence. We restore dilapidated art, repair damage, clean and conserve valuables, and work in numerous art mediums. For some, art restoration meaning is limited to structural fixes, but we take pride in taking that definition much further - to preserve the aesthetics and commercial value of the art both, returning or uncovering the original artists' intent to the greatest possible extent.
Document restoration Portland
Paper antiques and documents offer a unique set of challenges to restore. We can deal with:
- Rips in paper
- Remove stains
- Mold remediation
- Wrinkles
- Damaged prints
- Fill in missing pieces
- Mount to a rigid board
- Frame your finished artwork
- Cleaning
Most paper items come to us because they are ripped and stained either with mold or from something spilled on them.
Paper restoration is extremely challenging and requires cautious well-planned techniques that demand utmost cleanliness, collection of old papers, great knowledge of materials, reversible adhesives, proper storage, and a delicate touch.
We keep paper repairs and cleanings relatively seamless and pay careful attention to the long-term preservation of the artwork. Paper is extremely delicate and can be ripped or damaged just by handling.
Paper restorations come to us when they need careful, expert repair at a fair price. We offer one-stop shopping including mounting and framing. Old Japanese screen repair, wrinkled, water-damaged prints flattened, mounted reversibly, cleaned and touched up.
Wood restoration
Wood artifacts and antiques are some of our favorites to work with.
We restore
- wood statues
- Frames
- Carvings
- Bowls
- Chinese altar tables
- Small furniture
- Relief sculptures
- Decorative trunks
- Jewelry boxes
- Misc curios
Wood is a durable material, and most damage is scratching and dings that come from moving. Larger breaks are also correctable. A lot of damage is done to antique furniture by over-cleaning or ill-fated attempts at restoring carried out by amateurs. You should never completely sand and refinish very old furniture it can destroy the value. Stains and water damage can happen from beverages placed on the wood's surface. Most fine wooden statuary should never be placed outside.
All wooden artifacts and sculptures are stored in a stable environment without excess moisture or heat changes. The piece is fully evaluated and a careful plan for restoration is worked out.
Restoring wood is an exciting practice. Finding the right glue, the right fillers, and repairing color and finish to full effect yields its’ own type of satisfaction. We are very careful to be respectful of the age and patina of wooden artifacts, keeping repairs isolated to the affected area.
We are the fine art restorers people come to for fine finishes, exact color matches, replication of missing pieces including lathe work like missing decorative finials, table legs, ball toppers, four-poster beds, etc. We can even carve precise replicas of missing pieces and sourcing the correct species of wood.
Metal art restoration
Metal is one of the most diverse materials we work with and is one of the most diverse art mediums to work with. We can work on your antique or contemporary piece:
- Bronze
- Steel / stainless steel
- Copper
- Spelter
- Pewter
Like a typical metal fabrication shop, we are able to braze or weld just about any metal or alloy to restore structural integrity. However, as art conservators, we specialize in doing so without the repairs showing. In some cases this entails specialized art restoration equipment, but more often than not it comes down to technique. With art, preserving the aesthetic of the original art, including the artist patina is as important as the physical bond.
Stone and concrete art restoration
From tabletop collectibles to public art monuments, we can do the necessary restoration:
- marble
- alabaster
- limestone
- granite
- concrete
Damage for stone items ranges from major handling trauma to extended exposure to elements. We can deal with missing pieces, surface etching, discoloration, or treat more direct damage such as vandalism. Use of appropriate art restoration materials is important in creating lasting repairs.
We pride ourselves in using methods that result in long-lasting repairs so that the sculptures can be enjoyed for years to come.
Painting restoration
We restore all kinds of paintings on either canvas or board:
- Oil
- Gouache
- Tempera
- Watercolor
- Acrylic
Most typical damage is either from dropping, either from mis-mounting or from moving, or a direct result of a previous failed attempt at cleaning or restoration.
In either case, it takes a collection of years of experience in different materials and methods to know how to treat each kind of paint and material, making sure that the restoration process itself does not create damage of its own or cause future problems.
Color matching and technique is especially important when restoring paintings, which take years to master. A keen understanding of chemicals and their interactions with various materials is also paramount to proper cleaning and preparation of the work.
Ceramics, glass, china, pottery repair
Glassware and all forms of delicate fine china are a specialty. From matching colors on hand-painted dinnerware, to crystal-clear repairs to crystal:
- Blown glass
- Figurines and collectibles
- Pottery
- Ceramics
- Fine china
- Glassware
China and glassware are some of the most delicate fine art you can own, so damage to this type of collectible is common. Because these items are often smaller and common in household situations, they are more exposed to mishandling and casual accidents.
Many amateurs don’t realize how delicate these items can be, and use harsh chemicals while cleaning, resulting in damage that is difficult to reverse.
Similarly, over the counter adhesives do not usually provide the bond needed for a long-lasting repair for breaks that do not have a lot of surface area to mend. This leads to future breaks along the weak spots where previous damage occurred, and oftentimes results in further damage or loss. It takes a specialized knowledge of both the material and the potential chemical tools and techniques to create a permanent repair.
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