Art Restoration & Collectibles Conservation

Art Restoration & Collectibles Conservation

AMRestore will treat your precious artwork like the treasure it is, as we restore what is valued most to you in your time of need.

 

At AMRestore

we have a dedicated art staff with trained art handlers and art restoration specialists.

We frequently handle the packing, transport and ensuing restoration of any type of art or collections.  Our specialists can reframe, mat and back traditional or high-end art; paintings can be restored to pre-loss conditions, and any other art or collectible can be restored for its sentimental value or to save on the replacement cost.

Trust AMRestore’s division that specializes in the recovery and restoration of art, wall hangings and antiques from fires, floods, mold and a variety of other disasters.  AMRestore’s art restoration professionals have fine art and conservation related degrees in addition to post-baccalaureate training and certifications.

AMRestore handles, treats and restores various art media types such as:

  • Paintings- oil, water color, all media, etc.
  • Prints- lithographs, posters, memorabilia, etc.
  • Pictures- on film or photographic paper, duplication as requested
  • Memorabilia and Collections
  • Works of art on canvas: oil, acrylic, etc.
  • Works of art on paper: prints, lithographs, wood-cuts, posters, etc.
  • Photos: Restoration of actual photo or digital restoration
  • 3-D Objects: Sculpture, Tribal Art, Pottery, Figurines, etc.
  • Furniture: Antique and Modern
  • Sports memorabilia, Textiles, and other types of collections

Before & After

Below are examples of works of art the AMRestore team has restored from fire, water or mold damage. Our incredible team can meticulously handle the restoration of any substrate with the highest quality and care available.

Slide 1
This painting was covered in a layer of soot and drywall debris from a fire loss. There were also many losses on the ornate gilt frame. The restoration included surface cleaning the painting, cleaning the gilt frame, and recreating the many lost plaster decorations.
Slide 2
This painting was badly damaged in a fire. The heat of the fire caused the varnish and previous restorations to fail. The treatment involved removing the layers of soot and damaged varnish, reversing the previous repairs, and properly mending the tears in the canvas. Once stable, the tears and damaged could be cosmetically repaired by filling and inpainting the losses.
Slide 3
This painting was damaged in a fire. There was debris on the surface of the painting and a shellac that had been applied to the frame had caused the gilding to separate from the wood base and curl/peel. To restore the item, it was surface cleaned, and the lifting areas of the gilding were consolidated with an appropriate adhesive.
Slide 4
This print was water damaged with stains throughout. The print was washed with appropriate methods to reduce the water stains and remove acidic buildup in the paper. Once dry and flattened, the print was framed with new archival materials.
Slide 5
This original baseball schedule had been submerged in water and resulted in major water damage along the bottom edge. To restore the item, the print had to be removed from the damaged cardboard support, so it could be safely washed in water baths. Once the stain was sufficiently reduced, the print was mounted onto a new backing support and the missing corners were recreated.
Slide 6
This drawing was submerged and for an extended period of time in seawater. Once received, it was dried and washed to neutralize the paper. The torn corners of the paper were mended. Once restored, the drawing was reframed with new archival materials.
Slide 7.1
This large bronze (6’ tall) was damaged in a fire, with resulting water and debris damage. Restoration involved surface cleaning with an appropriate solution to remove the debris, soot, and rust/corrosion from the surface of the bronze. The final step was to apply a protective wax to the surface of the bronze.
Slide 7.2
This large bronze (6’ tall) was damaged in a fire, with resulting water and debris damage. Restoration involved surface cleaning with an appropriate solution to remove the debris, soot, and rust/corrosion from the surface of the bronze. The final step was to apply a protective wax to the surface of the bronze.
Slide 8
This clay figure was damaged after a fire and resulting water damage. After the item was carefully dried, the edges were consolidated, and the pieces were assembled into place with an appropriate adhesive. The losses were filled and inpainted with appropriate materials.
Slide 9
This wood duck decoy was one from a large collection that was affected by a fire and covered in a heavy layer of soot. Treatment included carefully surface cleaning the decoy to remove the soot on a variety of painted and raw areas of wood, followed by deodorization.
Slide 10
This jersey was autographed in many areas in blue sharpie. The jersey was unfortunately water damaged, resulting in stains in several areas, including where autographed. To remove the stains without disturbing the signatures, an appropriate solution was very carefully tested and applied locally to the stained areas on a vacuum table.
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Issues Encountered

Prevent these common issues by calling AMRestore first!

Not understanding the difference of art versus other items in the mitigation and triage stage

Handling art like general contents or using movers that just performed demo work on your structure

Unqualified art packers and handlers resulting in improper packing and possibly broken items

Art being not cleaned and continuing as a source of odor even when everything else is completed

Damage by over cleaning or improper chemistries

Companies not understanding the intrinsic or sentimental value of items.

“Things to consider during an art loss if you don’t call AMRestore first!”

  • The unique nature of fine art and sentimental heirlooms, we understand the differences in handling these types of items versus other types of more typical content items
  • Art transport, shipping, and moving must be handled in a conscientious way by trained professionals; transport is a high risk area for fragile or high value items
  • Art and other collectibles must be cleaned and repaired by trained professionals. The wrong solvent can permanently disfigure certain types of paintings, prints, and other objects
  • Many first responding restoration contractors are not aware of the abilities of art conservators and may assume a piece of art is a loss – when there are many techniques that can save art and sentimental items. It’s always best to consult with a contractor that has this specialty experience

Trust AMRestore with priceless art and collectibles.

AMRestore has the dedicated division, lab, personnel and training to perform in your time of need. Call us today to see what a difference we can make.

You are welcome to come and see us in action; call us at 800-498-8800.  Ask for our impressive list of referrals!

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