Sharing a Common Goal of Preserving the Past | The Conservation Center is the largest and most comprehensive private art conservation laboratory in the country. With 40 years of experience, The Center is a leader in the field of art restoration, evolving new treatments and methods to adapt to the rapidly changing art world. This is one of the laboratories at The Center, where the conservators can collaboratively work across departments. | |
Hello Maribel,
Engaging with our customers often leads to fascinating discoveries. Recently, I learned that one of our long-time patrons, Heather Becker, is the CEO of The Conservation Center—one of the nation's top conservation institutions.
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Heather Becker, CEO, The Conservation Center | After studying painting and art history on scholarship at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the International School of Art in Italy, Heather was inspired to pursue a career in the field of art preservation. In 1989, she developed a national business plan for The Chicago Conservation Center; as the company was formerly known, and purchased the firm from its founder in August 2003. The Center has since expanded to provide conservation services in paintings, works of art on paper, murals, textiles, antique and fine furniture, rare books, frames and gilding, and objects and sculpture. The Center is now the largest private facility of its kind in North America. | Located just 10 minutes from our store, The Conservation Center is a treasure trove of expert conservators with diverse specialties. They restore a wide array of items, from museum pieces and fire or flood-damaged property to paintings, photographs, textiles, murals, glass, metalwork, antique and fine furniture, rare books, frames, and sculptures. A fundamental principle of their work is that less is more: using non-invasive, reversible techniques and archival-grade materials allows them to preserve the artist’s original intent. | A conservator closely examines a canvas during treatment. | I recently had the pleasure of visiting The Conservation Center, and it was truly awe-inspiring. My assistant and I were thoroughly impressed by their state-of-the-art technology and the exceptional quality of service they provide. In my many years in the antiques business, I have rarely encountered such dedication to preserving historical works. | |
Before and after conservation treatment. | |
The team at The Conservation Center consists of dozens of top experts in various disciplines who have honed their skills over many years. Their passion for their work is evident, and their gracious personalities made our visit enjoyable. Heather Becker, the owner, was a wonderful host, introducing us to her talented team and ensuring all our questions were answered.
The facility itself is spectacular!
| The Center, viewed from the outside. Housed in an all-concrete building originally constructed in the late 1800s to store gold, the Center occupies over 45,000 square feet of space and is fully climate controlled. | |
Recently, The Conservation Center was named one of the 2024 ARTnews Top Art World Professionals, highlighting leaders in 12 categories within the United States—the largest single national market for art. | |
Removing yellowed varnish as part of a conservation treatment can make a striking difference. | |
Conservation vs. Restoration
Understanding the difference between restoration and conservation is crucial for anyone involved in the care and management of antiques, as it influences how these valuable items are treated and preserved for future generations. Restoration focuses on returning an antique to its original appearance or function, often involving repairs, cleaning, and refinishing to make the item look as it did when new. This process can enhance visual appeal and usability but may alter or remove original materials, potentially affecting the item's historical integrity and value.
In contrast, conservation aims to preserve the current state of an antique, preventing further deterioration while maintaining its historical authenticity. This approach involves minimal intervention, using reversible and non-invasive methods to stabilize the item without altering it. Conservation maintains the historical and cultural significance of an antique, preserving its original materials and craftsmanship, and is often preferred for museum-quality pieces or items with significant historical value.
Knowing the difference between these approaches is important for making informed decisions that preserve the historical and monetary value of antiques. While improper restoration can diminish an item's value, appropriate conservation can enhance it by respecting the original materials and craftsmanship.
Understanding these approaches allows collectors, curators, and owners to choose the right method based on the antique's condition, significance, and intended use, ensuring that antiques are treated in a way that respects their past and preserves their future.
If you would like to learn more about The Conservation Center, you can visit their website for past articles from their monthly educational newsletter. Some projects of note include this delicate porcelain candelabra, an important carved maple high chest of drawers, a Queen Anne style settee, and this beautiful gilded mirror. Click the links to learn more, or visit their archive.
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The custom framing & fabrication department carefully handles a print. | |
A conservator carefully retouches a damaged work on paper using reversible, archival-grade pigments. | The shipping & handling team is comprised of a talented crew, capable of handling projects of any size. | |
An overview of one of the laboratories at The Center. | |
The frames & gilding conservators were able to transform this intricate work. | |
Before and after conservation treatment. | |
Before and after conservation treatment, as well as a new display from our custom framing & fabrication department. |
Antique Resources is thrilled to announce that Heather is offering our newsletter subscribers a 10% discount on initial services. Simply mention that you are part of the Antique Resources community. (Please note that this offer is valid through the calendar year of 2025 and applies only to conservation costs for first-time clients.)
If there is any topic related to antiques you wish to hear about, let us know. This newsletter is for you, and we are creating a community where we can all share and grow in our love for antiques.
Best,
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