Here at The Center, we love helping clients preserve pieces of their family history. When a client brought in an ambrotype cased photograph of one of their ancestors, our conservators were eager to get to work. 

Philippe Starck (French, b. 1949) is one of the most influential and innovative designers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with a diverse portfolio that spans everything from innovative toothbrushes to Olympic medals and luxury yachts. Recently, we had the opportunity to conserve an example of one of his most iconic pieces: the W.W. Stool, a design so significant that it graced the cover of Taschen’s 1991 monograph, Starck.

The Conservation Center is honored to be assisting the Roswell Museum with rescue efforts for their collection that was affected by the flood in October. An update on the uphill battle for remediation as the Roswell Museum recovers from a disastrous 500-year flood can be found here in an article published in Southwest Contemporary by Natalie Hegert.

When a stunning, colorful relief in the manner of the della Robbia workshop arrived at The Center for treatment, we eagerly anticipated restoring this beautiful object to its former glory.  

Thomas Birch (1779–1851) was an influential English-born American landscape painter known for his evocative depictions of natural scenery, particularly along the East Coast. We recently had the pleasure of treating an oil on panel by Birch here at The Conservation Center. The results of the treatment were dramatic, as our conservators brought a beautiful sky-scene back to life, casting light on the solemn burial ritual below. This scene is an excellent example of Birch’s mastery of depicting the natural world, with his keen eye for detail and vibrant use of color. 

When this stunning French commode arrived at The Conservation Center for treatment, our conservators sprang into action to craft a solution that would require both their technical skill and historical knowledge of the art of marquetry.

They say a broken mirror causes seven years of bad luck, but with the work of our skilled conservators, we can cut that timeframe down to a few months of treatment. When this beautiful gilded mirror arrived at The Center in pieces after a fall, our team knew exactly how to handle this multi-faceted project.

The Conservation Center is honored to be named one of the 2024 ARTnews Top Art World Professionals. The list focuses on the leaders in 12 categories within the United States, the largest single national market for art.

When this gorgeous settee came to The Conservation Center missing the proper right carved bracket on its front middle leg, our furniture team sprang into action to craft a solution that would seamlessly blend with the rest of the piece.  

Surrealism was explored in the Midwest as a dreamlike and domestic embrace of the subconscious. The Surrealist circles around Chicago considered realistic and psychic subject matter in a way that was both meticulous and deeply unsettling, blending the local with the fantastical. Though never a formal movement, the traditions of Midwestern surrealism and magical realism include the works of many notable artists, such as Gertrude Abercrombie, Julia Thecla, Harold Noecker, Ivan Albright, Dorothea Tanning, and John Wilde.

Released between 1997 and 2007, the Harry Potter series reshaped the landscape of children's literature, capturing the imaginations of readers around the world. Its themes of friendship, courage, and the eternal struggle between good and evil resonate deeply with audiences of all ages. When a client sent us their prized first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, we were thrilled to conserve such a magical treasure!

In the 1920s, Caresse Crosby (born Mary Phelps Jacob; April 20, 1892 – January 24, 1970) emerged as a vibrant and influential figure, an American expatriate in Paris’s rich cultural and artistic circles. Alongside her husband, Harry Crosby, she embraced the bohemian lifestyle, mingling with leading artists, writers, and intellectuals reflecting the spirit of the Lost Generation.

Every so often, we get the chance to work on an incredibly sentimental and historically important heirloom brought in by one of our very own staff members.