What is conservation? Conservation is a field devoted to the preservation of art and other cultural property for the future. This often includes traditional repairs and even restoration. We carefully examine each object to understand its condition and the reasons for its deterioration; we respect its age and history by only making sensitive and appropriate interventions as needed; and finally, we document our repairs and alterations. Through this process and good preventative care you can preserve the value, historical integrity and useful life of your furniture and woodwork.
How do I use your services? Every treatment begins with an evaluation of the object to determine its condition. We will prepare a written statement of the condition, propose treatments and estimate the costs of each treatment option. Once you approve a level of treatment, we will schedule a time to begin and will keep you apprised of any findings that might affect the course of the treatment or the costs. You will receive a written report of the treatment and images of the work for your records.
What is the value of my furniture? We do not provide you directly with a monetary appraisal of your furniture since there is a conflict of interest in providing a value that could influence your decision to use our services. However, we can direct you to a qualified professional appraisers in the area.
Will you come to my home to do your work? We work on-site for many architectural projects. However, with furniture it is generally more cost effective and efficient to work in our shop unless the work is very simple.
How do I transport my furniture to your shop? In the Boston area, there are local pick-up and delivery firms that specialize in working with art and antiques. For objects outside of eastern Massachusetts we recommend fine art carriers such as US Art, Fine Art Enterprises or Artex who have extensive experience with packing and transporting objects.
Is my furniture insured at your shop? We carry both Business Liability insurance and Fine Arts Coverage. For particularly valuable furniture we will obtain a rider from our insurance carrier to cover the value of a particular piece in our care. Most homeowners’ insurance policies also protect the value of the contents during repair.
Where can I receive more information on caring for my antiques? The American Institute for Conservation has an excellent web site that includes guidelines on caring for your collections.