In the world of art and antiquities, few items capture the imagination quite like a candelabra. A symbol of opulence and refinement, these exquisite pieces often bear the weight of history and the artistry of unknown hands. The candelabra in question, a porcelain masterpiece adorned with Mercury gilding, is a testament to the craft of an artist lost to time.
Harry Houdini, the renowned escape artist, is an iconic figure in the history of magic and entertainment. A photograph capturing his daring straight-jacket escape with the Washington Monument in the background is not just a glimpse into his magic but also a window into history. This vintage piece, Harry Houdini Performance in Washington, D.C., circa 1918, attributed to Culver Pictures Inc., measures 9.5x7.125 inches and dates back to around 1918. Recently, this image underwent a meticulous conservation process, transforming it from a time-worn relic into a well-preserved piece of history.
Hidden beneath the welcoming back porch of the Kennicott residence at The Grove is a remarkable piece of history – a signature wall bearing the marks of countless Kennicott family members and visitors, with some signatures dating as far back as the 1860s. This unassuming wall, covered in signatures that bear witness to the passage of time, tells the story of a family deeply connected to their home.
Art conservation is a delicate and intricate process that aims to protect and restore artworks for future generations to enjoy. Among the many art forms, sculptures often present unique challenges due to their three-dimensional nature and the variety of materials used. Such is the case with the restoration of The Shepherd and The Sower, two exquisite bas reliefs by renowned Lithuanian artist Vytautas Jonynas. These reliefs, originally installed in the summer home of Joseph and Alexandra Kazickas in East Hampton, NY, hold not only artistic significance but also historical value.
This month, The Conservation Center’s painting department has been working onsite at the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line Harlem Station to conserve Harlem Station, 1984, by artist Alex Katz. This freestanding cutout mural is 8 feet high and 50 feet long and is visible from both sides. Watch the sneak peek videos below, and stay tuned for an upcoming overview of this treatment.
The Conservation Center often assists museums, institutions, foundations, and non-profit organizations with conserving and caring for their collections. In addition to comprehensive conservation services, The Center's team assists with long-term preservation planning, digitization of archives and historical documents, creation of custom displays, packing and transportation, and long-term storage of collections. Over the past two years, The Center has worked with the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) on several conservation projects while their building underwent an expansion and renovation campaign, partnering with renowned architecture firm Studio Gang to design their new facility.
Every year, The Center receives thousands of items of all kinds, yet some truly stand out. Bathsheba (1708) by Willem van Mieris arrived at The Center from the art collection at Notre Dame University, Indiana. As construction progresses on Notre Dame's new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, The Conservation Center has been busy conserving select pieces from the collection. These artworks will be displayed in the new facility, set to open in November 2023. Preserving artwork is always an honor, but parting with this one was bittersweet. Our CEO, Heather Becker, even shared, "I didn't want this painting to leave."
When metal becomes corroded, the alloy has undergone a chemical reaction with its environment, typically with oxygen and moisture, which leads to the deterioration of the metal's surface. Improper storage, the age and materials used to make the sword, climate conditions, and lack of consistent proper maintenance can all contribute to metal corrosion, such as with these four antique swords.
Ethnographic art is often deeply rooted in the history and traditions of a particular community, and it can play various roles within that context. It may serve ceremonial, religious, or symbolic purposes, as well as being functional in everyday life. For example, masks might be used in traditional ceremonies, textiles may carry symbols with specific meanings, and pottery might serve as utilitarian vessels.
In August 2022, we shared the first stages of treatment of "The Assumption of Mary," a nine-foot-tall painting from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Davenport, Iowa. Nearly a year has passed since the treatment journey began, involving hundreds of hours of work. We are excited to present the final chapter of this enthralling painting's conservation tale.
Recently, The Conservation Center had the honor to work with the Maxwell Street Foundation on an amazing find - a newly discovered time capsule. The capsule was discovered while a church was being demolished; the church where the capsule was discovered was linked to a Dutch congregation near Maxwell Street. Our conservation team opened the capsule and examined the contents inside. One document, in particular, was incredibly delicate. The document was extremely brittle and underwent treatment and storage to keep it safe. Watch as Bozena Szymanski, Senior Conservator of Works on Paper carefully treats this delicate document from the past.
Properly storing magazines is of essential importance to ensure their long-term preservation and safeguard their historical, cultural, and sentimental value. Whether antique, vintage, or contemporary, magazines hold a wealth of information and serve as valuable artifacts of their respective time periods.
Newspapers serve as a historical record, documenting the events, stories, and perspectives of a particular time and place. They capture a society's social, political, economic, and cultural dynamics, providing valuable insights for researchers, historians, and future generations. Newspaper archives are a rich primary documentation source, offering a firsthand account of historical moments and societal changes. But ironically, newspapers are not made to last.
Corporate archives serve as invaluable repositories of historical knowledge for organizations. Archives provide insights into the company's past, which they can leverage to inform present decision-making and future strategies. These archives serve several vital functions and are crucial in supporting various aspects of a company's operations and activities. They are sources of inspiration and are crucial in preserving corporate memory, facilitating research, ensuring compliance, and contributing to a company's overall success.
George Washington, the first President of the United States, has been the subject of numerous paintings throughout history. He was often portrayed in his military uniform or as a stoic statesman. But this painting of Washington, recently brought to The Center for conservation, didn't quite fit into that imagery. Opulent, colorful clothing is not typically what comes to mind for a portrait of Washington. The folds of the fabric, delicate lace trim, and the detailed painting of the hands made the figure's face feel relatively flat and displayed less skill compared to these other areas of the picture.
The Conservation Center is dedicated to the long-term preservation of artworks and heirlooms, and our job is to preserve and care for the art, antiques, heirlooms, and archives to allow them to have a future life. The focus of conservation is on stabilizing the current conditions of an item and ensuring its safety for the future. Often, this involves services beyond conservation treatment. Custom framing and displays, installation, storage, and handling all impact the long-term safety of art and heirlooms.
Heather Becker was studying on a scholarship at the International School of Art in Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy. One day, her class took a field trip to another rustic little village whose name, by contrast, comprises a single, gonglike syllable: Rome. “I remember we entered a chapel, and there was a conservator up on scaffolding,” she says. “She was working on something.” Becker was so immediately rapt, her traveling companions began gently nudging her. She asked around and joined the conservator on her scaffold. “I just became completely mesmerized by what she was doing.”
For many years, the team at The Conservation Center has enjoyed working on many compelling projects for the American artist Kerry James Marshall. Our team appreciates his personal visits and collaborations because they lead to complex discussions about artistic processes, tools, concentration, ethics, and more. For EXPO CHICAGO 2023, I asked Kerry if there was anything he would like us to treat and frame that we might share in our educational booth this year, and Kerry said he would drop something by.
"Father of the National Parks," John Muir famously said, "The mountains are calling, and I must go." Mountains call to so many. Adventurers hike mountains to commune with nature. Athletes climb mountains to test their skills and conquer the terrain. Artists paint mountains to capture the scope and majesty of their beauty. The mountain in this landscape painting looms large over a lake and valley, with a snowcapped summit. Unfortunately, the delicate details of this painting had languished with years of discoloration and damage.
This high chest of drawers is attributed to Marjo John Dunlap of Bedford, New Hampshire, circa 1970. As published by Leigh Keno American Antiques, "this high chest represents the highly innovative craftsmanship of Major John Dunlap (1746-1792) and Lt. Samuel Dunlap (1752- 1830), pioneers of a multigenerational family of cabinetmakers who worked in south-central New Hampshire in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries."
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