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Conservation Treatment Services Offered |
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Conservation is much more than repair or restoration of damaged objects. It
transcends band-aid approaches to deterioration. Conservation is an
interdisciplinary profession which combines elements of science, technology, art
history, artistry, scholarship, and a
strong ethical code to
provide a comprehensive method of caring for historic objects. Its goal is to
prevent deterioration rather than treat it after it has occurred. However,
various factors conspire to require treatment of historic objects. Anyone who
has marveled at the intricate detail of an inlaid Hepplewhite sideboard or
admired the fine decoration of a Concord coach understands the importance of
preserving these objects which link all of us to the past.
 | Furniture and Wooden Object
Conservation: a comprehensive scope of furniture and wooden object
treatment services. These range from sensitive cleaning of surfaces to
minimal-intervention stabilization to structural solidification to replacement
of missing parts. Material types include finishes, paint, gilding, veneer,
marquetry, hardware, and upholstery, as well as wood joinery treatment.
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| Conservation of Horse-Drawn Vehicles:
structural solidification and rebuilding; consolidation and reattachment
of flaking paint and varnish; removal of over-paint and over-varnishes;
in-painting of losses; application of removable protective coatings;
repainting if necessary with historically-appropriate and reversible materials
and techniques. Treatment of attachments: minimally invasive upholstery
treatment; cleaning, polishing and protective coating of metals; leather
treatment; gilding conservation; treatment of other materials associated with
horse-drawn vehicles.
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| Architectural Features
Conservation: treatment of wooden interior decorative architectural
elements, including paneling, moldings, carvings, stairways, floors and other
decorative elements. Also, we offer a uniquely developed system for
stabilizing historic plaster.
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| Conservation
Assessments: establish general recommendations for preservation of the
collections as a whole and identify institution-wide needs. Specific areas of
emphasis are stabilization of the environment, storage and display, and proper
maintenance procedures.
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| Collection Surveys: assess briefly the condition of each object in
a collection and allow development of a prioritized long-range conservation
plan. Normally, these follow a Conservation Assessment.
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| Condition Reports and Proposed Treatments: outline in detail
existing deterioration and suggest methods and materials for conservation
treatment of individual objects. This includes second opinions of treatment
strategies developed by other conservators.
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| Affiliates: provide conservation treatments of object and material
types other than wood, architectural assessments, and museum management and
administration consultation, allowing clients to streamline and simplify the
procurement of conservation and collection-related services by eliminating the
administrative burden of identifying, verifying and contracting with numerous
independent specialists.
Customized Preservation and Treatment
Even under the best of circumstances, some degradation of valued historic
items is unavoidable. Comprehensive preservation and treatment programs,
therefore, are critical to the maintenance of a collection, regardless of its
size. No two objects are the same. All vary at least slightly in their
design, materials and condition. Different areas of an object or materials
will have deteriorated to differing degrees. Thus, the treatment program for
each object must be customized. In order to provide the best care, the
conservator must personally examine the object.
A common misunderstanding about treatment is that there is one right
approach for a given object. American Conservation Consortium will suggest
options that provide the best possible care, based upon the factors specific
to each case. The environmental conditions, needs of the owner, use of the
object, aesthetics and economics are all considerations when designing a
customized treatment program.
Support and Availability
Most modern professional conservation services are available only at larger
museums for the exclusive benefit of their own collections. In the past, other
institutions and private collectors have had to utilize local restorers and
craftspersons. American Conservation Consortium's modular facilities, allowing
in- situ services, and custom-designed treatment laboratory bring state-of-
the-art conservation support to institutions and private collections
throughout North America. In addition,
Curators and Directors from the White House, the National Gallery of Art,
Mount Vernon, Monticello, various properties of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation, the New Hampshire Historical Society, and the
Bennington Museum, as well as other state and local historical agencies, have
entrusted their collection items to American Conservation Consortium.
American Conservation Consortium is dedicated to providing quality service,
in a timely fashion. Survey reports normally are provided within a week of the
site visit. Treatments are begun shortly after receiving the object. And, of
course, all treatments are prefaced by a written Condition Report and Proposed
Treatment subject to client approval. Treatments scrupulously emphasize
maximum preservation of original and historically important component
materials of an object, and follow the American Institute for Conservation's
Code of Ethics.
As part of providing foremost conservation support, all services of
American Conservation Consortium are administered from a centralized office,
increasing efficiency and quality control. We would be pleased to assist you
with your needs, be they a single family heirloom or an entire collection.
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