Conservation Services
Documentation & Reports.
Every work that enters our studio is examined with the full range of scientific imaging and analytical methods available. Understanding precedes treatment — always.
Our Approach
Science in service of the object.
Conservation without documentation is not conservation — it is intervention without accountability. Every work that passes through our studio receives a comprehensive examination record before a single treatment decision is made. This record becomes the foundation of all subsequent work and a permanent part of the object's history.
We employ both non-invasive imaging methods — which require no contact with the object — and minimally invasive analytical techniques where the information they provide cannot be obtained any other way. The choice of methods is determined by the object, its condition, and the questions that need to be answered.
Analytical Methods
From surface to substrate.
The methods employed depend on the object, its condition, and the collector's requirements. We discuss the appropriate approach at the initial consultation.
Condition Assessment
A systematic reading of every surface.
The condition assessment is the most important document we produce. It establishes the baseline against which all treatment is measured and provides the collector with an authoritative record of the work's state at a specific moment in time.
Support Condition
Canvas tension, panel stability, structural integrity, previous repairs, deformations and mechanical damage.
Paint Layer
Adhesion, flaking, cleavage, craquelure patterns, abrasion, overpaint and the stability of the pictorial surface.
Varnish & Surface
Yellowing, blanching, bloom, grime accumulation, previous varnish layers and surface coatings.
Previous Restorations
Location, extent and condition of all previous interventions — retouching, fills, relining, consolidation.
Environmental Damage
Water damage, mould, insect activity, light fading, foxing and the effects of inappropriate storage or display.
Photographic Record
Systematic photography under normal, raking, transmitted, UV and infrared illumination. Annotated condition maps for complex works.
The Conservation Report
A permanent record, not a receipt.
Our conservation reports are written to museum standard and are accepted by major auction houses, insurers and institutions as authoritative documentation of an object's condition and treatment history.
Object Identification
Full physical description of the work — title, artist, date, medium, support, dimensions, inscriptions and any existing documentation. Photographic record under normal, raking and transmitted light.
Condition Assessment
Systematic mapping of the object's condition at the time of examination. Every area of damage, instability, previous restoration and deterioration is recorded, located and described. Annotated photographic diagrams are produced for complex works.
Technical Analysis Results
Findings from all imaging and analytical methods employed, presented with annotated images. Interpretation of results in the context of the object's history, attribution and treatment requirements.
Treatment Record
A chronological account of all conservation treatments carried out — materials used, methods employed, areas treated and the rationale for each decision. All materials are identified by trade name and chemical composition.
Post-Treatment Condition
Photographic and written record of the object's condition on completion of treatment. Comparison with pre-treatment documentation demonstrates the extent and nature of the work carried out.
Recommendations
Guidance on display conditions, storage, handling, environmental parameters and future conservation requirements. The report becomes a permanent part of the object's provenance record.
Begin a Consultation
Discuss your work with our conservators.