FAQ

The following are some general rules and advice that may help owners keep their objects in good condition whether your object is in its original condition or has been restored.

• Dust lightly and regularly.
• Do not immerse in water. When cleaning use a dry cloth or duster. Do not use any cleaning products or solvents, such as alcohol or acetone.
• Do not keep an object direct sunlight or inside a dark cupboard. Avoid keeping the object for an extensive period of time close to an artificial light or close to a source of heat (such as a fireplace or heater). These extremes can affect the material used in conservation, causing discolouration or shrinkage.
• Domestic use should be avoided with objects that have been restored. For example, do not fill vases with water, as this will undermine the adhesives.
• Do not attach sticky labels, such as sellotape, as this may remove restoration or decoration from original the surface.
• Do not pick the object up by the handle, knob or spout, even if it is in its original condition. When picking up the object, use both hands and lift from the base.
• Carry only one object at a time.

Keeping to these general rules should insure that your object will stay in good condition for a long time. If these guidelines are not followed, then the object may deteriorate over time.

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• Stay calm, do not panic
• Pick up every piece of the broken object
• Wrap each section of the object in paper or bubble wrap and put the parts together into a box
• Contact a conservator/restorer

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Work estimates are made upon close examination of the object. Every object is treated as an individual case. Estimates are made according to the specific damage to the object, i.e. number of brakes or pieces missing. Please also be aware that, due to the complicity of restoration work, cost estimates cannot be given over the phone.

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Yes. A treatment report (documentation), witch includes a description of the condition and treatment of the object as well as photos taken before and after the treatment, can be provided upon request. The cost of these reports are billed at the regular hourly rate.

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To get an estimate on the value of the object, it is advisable to ask a professional such as an established antique dealer or an auction house. Restorers concentrate mainly on the condition of an object and its possible improvement. The value of the object does not affect the restoration work in any way. Apart from the trade value, many objects also have sentimental value for its owner. In any case, it up to the owner to decide whether or not the object is worth restoring.

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The client is fully responsible for insuring their object/s. Please be aware that due to the nature of the restoration business it is not possible for restorers to get insurance to cover items that are being restored. The client is therefore liable for all damage or loss to object/s while in the studio as well as during its carriage to and from the studio. While every precaution is made, it is advisable for the client to have their object/s insured.

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Although there is a difference between conserving and restoring an object, conservation and restoration are aspects of the same process and frequently go hand in hand. Both share following: to preserve the integrity the object, including evidence of its history and manufacture, by trying to use reversible materials and methods that can be removed without damage to the object itself.

More specific goals of conservation are to establish and stop the causes of deterioration and to prevent further deterioration; salts, flaking glazes, extensive dirt, moisture on the glass, network of fine cracks etc. can be some of the damages that fall under this aspect.

Restoration takes this a step further. It focuses on restoring the object to its presumed original condition. Knowing what this presumed condition was, at any particular time in its history, can of course be difficult. Restoration concentrates on the aesthetic value of an objects; bonding, cleaning cracks, filling chips, making new parts (fingers, flowers etc.), constructing a stand for an object and mounting tiles are some common aspects of restoration.

Het Blauwe Paard Restauratie Atelier offers both aspects to its clients as we believe that the combination of both allows for the achievement of the best results. We choose from a variety of methods, techniques and materials that can be used to conserve and restore an object and these will differ from object to object, depending on its condition and damage. It is important to us that we use the best of our knowledge, skills and experience to preserve an object as well as to meet the requirements of our client.

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