sculpture and decorative arts conservation services LLC

Condition Assessments are evaluations of the condition of an object.  Condition Surveys are usually evaluations of a group of objects with the establishment of priorities for treatment within the collection.  Condition Assessments are the first step in determining the treatment of an object and are accompanied usually by some form of digital, black and white or color photographic documentation.

The environment around an object usually contributes to the success or failure of preservation efforts.  Therefore, it is very important to understand the climate variations that are occurring around the object:  What is the variation in relative humidity? absolute humidity, temperature, ultraviolet light and pollutants?  All of these and more contribute to the object's condition and longevity.

Treatment is an outcome of the condition assessment and discussion with the client.  It is important that the goals of the treatment are understood by both the conservator and client.  Several tenents of the field of conservation guide the conservator in choosing a particular method or repair or restoration:  in general these include: attempting to make the treatment as reversible as possible, using only materials of long permanence, trying to uncover the artist's original intent (although it may not be followed depending on other values associated with the object), and doing as little harm as possible to the original material throughout the treatment.

Projects large enough to go out for bid require clear, informed specifications.  These can be provided to the client in a format that the architect or contractor can easily use. As the specifier, SDACS is committed to reviewing the work of the successful bidder and making certain that it meets the standards of the field.  In addition, good specifications are of no use unless qualified conservators or contractors bid on them. SDACS can help establish the qualifications needed of key personnel and help you locate them.

Administrators of collections frequently are confronted with many objects in need of care simultaneously.  I can design a strategic plan for the care of your object that determines which ones need attention immediately, which ones can wait and how many objects of various types need to be conserved or maintained on a yearly basis to meet your goals. This document, along with a conditions and environmental survey has often lead to successful fund-raising for collection care.

The Willow Pond Knoll Sculpture by Richard Ducas (above) is installed in Mount Auburn Cemetery. In 2006, scaffolding was erected (above left) and the sculpture's surface was carefully scraped down, recoated and waxed for protection. The photograph on the right is the same sculpture after treatment.

On a smaller scale, this sculpture by Carlos Melitos, entitled Embrace was accidentally broken into several large pieces and a number of tiny fragments.  The owner was careful to keep all the small chips together.  This facilitated the nearly invisible final repair.  KEEP THOSE FRAGMENTS PLEASE!