Conservation
& Restoration
Our workshop is located in the old market
town of Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, West Wales. We are passionate
about antique furniture, placing emphasis on the careful
and dedicated conservation and restoration of fine furniture
and associated decoration.
In order to keep the item true to its original form, only
essential works are carried out. This also ensures the historical
and/or financial value of the piece is maintained. We also
offer decorative veneering, traditional upholstery and gilded
work. Traditional techniques and materials are used within
the conservation & restoration
process, although new techniques and materials widely used
within museums are also incorporated.
The latter are usually reserved for fragile items which
need stabilizing and consolidating. Before a commission
is commenced, the client is presented with a condition
and treatment proposal, which includes an estimate for
work required. A treatment schedule is also supplied with
the completed item.
The aim of the schedule
is to provide future conservators with a guide to the materials
and techniques used in the restoration.
Therefore, we advise our clients to keep this document
for future reference. We also provide guidance on the
care of the item or items, and their appropriate location /positioning
within a room or building.
Click the panels below for more information
and images
Cabinet
Making
Most
conservation work requires only minimal replacement
of missing or decayed areas. Therefore, a conservator
can go through his whole working life with
out constructing a complete piece of furniture.
We
feel it is important that a conservator has
practiced the art of cabinet making to a high
degree; as this will ensure a far greater understanding
of furniture construction, its subsequent failure
and how to approach its repair in an ethical
way.
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Image
Details;
Reproduction of a Demi Lune Apron. |
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Carvings
Many
carvings suffer from infestation, loss of detail
and abrasion.
We are able to skilfully consolidate
the carvings, and sympathetically blend the
new sections as necessary.
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Image Details;
Carvings attributed
to Grinling & Gibbons,
have been partly cleaned by laser treatment,
before consolidation. |
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Veneer & Marquetry
The
conservation & restoration of veneered
items takes skill and patience.
The first step
is to identify the timbers used within the
decoration.
This is performed using microscopy
technology. Then, templates are produced of
the missing decoration.
These are then replicated
using traditional fret sawn techniques. The
new in lays are painstakingly re- positioned
to produce an exceptional finish
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Image Details;
Delamination & lose of decorative marquetry & veneer
are a common problem often. Two causes may
be due to fluctuation in relative humidity
or poor housekeeping. The first step is to
identify the timber used within the decoration
using microscopy. Once identified the missing
section can be reproduced using traditional
fret sawn marquetry.These new sections are
toned to surrounding area. |
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Metal Work
All
aspects of metal work are undertaken, from
refurbishment of locks and keys to castings.
We
are able to carefully clean decorative ormolu
mounts and replicate missing sections. Replicated
items are sympathetically toned to blend in
and complement existing areas.
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Image Details;
Keys are often missing from the locks
of antique furniture. These can be carefully
reproduced, thus making the furniture fully
functional once more. |
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Gilding
The
conservation & restoration of gilded items
requires immense skill and patience.
Before re-gilding can take place, the items frequently
require the painstaking task of replacing missing
gesso and composition.
We are able to sympathetically and skilfully
tone new areas of water or oil gilding to the
surrounding areas.
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Image Details;
Cleaning the centauries of grime, from a gilded
surface, before conservation can commences. |
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Upholstery
All
aspects of traditional upholstery are undertaken.
Whenever possible traditional techniques are
expertly employed, however when items are particularly
fragile, modern invasive techniques are skilfully
employed.
Such techniques are sometimes the
only option to ensure the piece is kept in
a usable condition.
When an upholstered
piece requires attention, its intended function
must be taken into account. If the piece is of
historical & monetary
value, then it should only be conserved using
original materials and methods.
Although if the
client wishes to use the piece, there are various
techniques and materials, that will allow it
to function with out further deterioration.
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Image Details;
Upholsterers were traditionally the highest
of the trade guilds. To create a fine piece of
upholstery required many complex stages.
Slip stitched ruche boarder, attached to
the gilded frame work with stainless steel staples.
This method reduces the further delamination
of gesso that may occur by hammering in tacks. |
 
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