Paintings & Frames
Conservation & Restoration
A M Conservation Ltd specialises in the conservation and restoration of easel paintings, portraits, religious paintings and altarpieces dating from the 17th to the 20th century. Our expertise encompasses paintings executed in oil and tempera on canvas, wooden panels and other supports.
Treatments are informed by careful examination of the painting's materials, construction, condition and previous restoration history. Our approach prioritises the preservation of original paint layers, structural stability and aesthetic integrity.
Specialist treatments include:
Paint Consolidation – Stabilisation and securing of lifting, flaking or fragile paint and ground layers using appropriate conservation materials and techniques.
Surface Cleaning – Controlled removal of accumulated dirt, grime and surface deposits while preserving original paint surfaces.
Varnish Removal & Reduction – Selective removal or reduction of discoloured, oxidised or degraded varnishes and inappropriate surface coatings, following careful testing.
Canvas Conservation – Structural treatments including tear repairs, localised reinforcement, correction of distortions and treatment of weakened canvas supports.
Wooden Panel Conservation – Stabilisation and repair of splits, fractures, warping and structural weaknesses in wooden painting supports.
Filling & Texturing – Application and careful shaping of conservation fills to compensate for losses in the ground and paint layers, replicating surrounding surface textures where appropriate.
Retouching & Chromatic Reintegration – Sympathetic colour matching and reintegration of paint losses using conservation-grade materials to restore visual coherence while respecting the original artwork.
Varnishing – Application of appropriate conservation varnishes to provide a protective surface coating and achieve a balanced, aesthetically unified appearance where suitable.
All treatments are carefully considered to preserve the authenticity, historical significance and long-term stability of each painting.
Gilded Frame Conservation & Restoration
Historic picture frames are an integral part of the presentation and interpretation of artworks. A M Conservation Ltd undertakes the conservation and restoration of carved, gilded and composition frames, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary conservation principles.
Our work focuses on preserving original decorative surfaces, stabilising structural deterioration and sympathetically reintegrating damaged or missing elements.
Specialist treatments include:
Structural Conservation – Stabilisation and repair of weakened joints, fractured timber, damaged corners and deteriorated frame structures.
Recreation of Decorative Losses – Repair and sympathetic reproduction of missing carved ornament, composition decoration and plaster elements using appropriate traditional materials and techniques.
Surface Cleaning – Careful removal of accumulated dirt, grime and surface deposits while preserving original gilding, patination and historic finishes.
Gilding Conservation & Restoration – Consolidation and repair of fragile gilded surfaces, including traditional water gilding, oil gilding, gesso and bole preparation, and selective reintegration of gilding losses.
Surface Finishing & Tonal Integration – Sympathetic toning and finishing of repaired areas to achieve visual harmony while retaining the historic character of the frame.
Our conservation approach places particular emphasis on retaining original gilding and decorative finishes, ensuring that restoration work remains appropriate to the age, craftsmanship and historical significance of each frame.
Images
Row 1. Left: 19th Century Oil on canvas. Treatment of varnish removal. Right: Varnish removal complete.
Row 2. Left: 19th Century Gilded Mirror frame before treatment. Right: Gilded Mirror frame after conservation treatment.
Row 3. Left: 19th Century Oil on Canvas. before treatment. Right: After treatment. Repair of tears by thread-to-tread bonding and sympatric in-paint of losses.
Row 4. Left: 19th Century Oil on Canvas. before treatment. Right: After treatment. Repair of tear using the thread-to-thread bonding and sympatric in-paint of losses.
Row 5. Left: 18th Century Oil on canvas. Treatment of varnish removal. Right: Varnish removal complete.
Row 6. Left: 19th Century gilded frame before treatment. Right: After treatment recreation of missing corner.