Fix tear in painting.
Overpaint removal
Old restorations/ retouchings may also be present on the surface when removing the varnish layer. These in many cases discolour and hide the artist's original brushwork and even extend far beyond the damage itself, as in the example on the left..
FAQ
Conservation studio
What can I expect when working with Schilderijen Restauratie Atelier?
We are committed to highly personalized, discreet client relationships and providing high quality treatments of old master, modern and contemporary paintings. When you get in touch with us about your conservation project, we will discuss your options and how our services might benefit you and your object.
Where are you located?
Van der Valk Boumanweg 25
2352JB Leiderdorp
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What are your opening hours?
Our standard operating hours are Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM. Appointments may be setup outside standard operating hours. No walk-ins, please.
Please contact us in advance via our contact form, phone 0617029663 or email to schedule an appointment.
Is it possible to park at the studio?
Yes, there are many parking spots nearby. Parking is free of charge.
Is your studio safe?
The studio is equipped in an alarm system. Furthermore the climate conditions are monitored and maintained at levels adequate for paintings.
Is my painting insured while in the studio?
The owner of an artwork is responsible for the insurance of the artwork (for transport, damage and loss) en route and in the restoration studio. Ask your insurance agent whether it is necessary to temporarily adjust your insurance location.
Estimate
Do I have to pay for the estimate?
The inspection of the artwork including the estimate are usually part of our service and are free of charge and non-binding. If the estimate is carried out at the client’s location extra travel costs may apply.
Estimates carried out for insurance cases necessitate a more detailed report and are therefore not free of charge.
Can you make an estimate based on photos?
Only a rough estimate can be done based on photos, that will need to be revised. As a rule, the photos sent to me are not of sufficient quality to be able to correctly assess the damage. In addition, as a customer, you cannot estimate which details would be relevant to my work. Photos can, however, be a good first point of reference for a rough estimate.
If you do not trust yourself to transport your artwork, it is too big or too badly damaged we can make an on-site appointment.
Can you come to my location to view the artwork and do the work?
That depends on where you're located and the conditions of the premises and the artwork. Contacting us through our contact form, email or phone call at 0617029663 is a good first step.
Paintings that are heavily damaged or have strongly flaking paint should never travel without the initial check by a restorer. Flaking paint for example can be consolidated or stabilized with a lightly attached piece of Japanese paper before the transport.
Costs
What is the price of a conservation treatment?
Each work of art is a unique piece, with an individual material composition and aging history. The feasibility and effort of e.g. cleaning does not necessarily depend on the size of the painting. Much more important is the texture of the painting, its roughness, pastosity, chemical and mechanical resistance. Often paintings from the 20th century or those from times of shortage and war are more sensitive and therefore more difficult to restore than those from around the 17th century - so age doesn't matter!
The price calculation is carried out based on the hours necessary for each treatment step.
Is it worth to restore a painting?
There is no general answer to whether a restoration is worthwhile. As a rule, restoration can be seen as a measure that adds value. However, it happens occasionally that the restoration costs exceed the market value of the object. In such a case, it is up to the emotional values and memories associated with the object whether a restoration is worthwhile.
What is the value of my painting?
Unfortunately, I do not carry out any appraisals. To assess the market value or current value of your work of art, you should contact people who specialize in art history. Usually auction houses or independent appraisers offer appraisals.
Will my insurance cover the restoration costs?
The coverage of the insurance damage usually depends on the type of insurance and the cause of the insurance damage.
If there is adequate coverage, the insurance company will often cover the restoration work or reimburse the cost of the artwork. As a rule, the damage must be proven by means of photos. Your insurance agent will visit you by appointment and decide how to proceed. If you can already submit an offer for restoration, this simplifies the assessment process by the insurance company considerably.
If disaster strikes and an object that is part of your art collection is damaged, I can file the insurance claim for you. This includes photographic and video documentation. It is also important to provide photographic documentation from before the damage occurred.
I can provide you with an estimate of the cost of repairing the damage. This gives you a good idea of the potential value of your claim.
Conservation treatment
Can the treatment be carried out on site?
Under normal circumstances we treat paintings in our studio. If the painting is very large or fragile or the treatment is small, we can also carry out the treatment on site.
My artwork is in very bad condition, can you still restore it?
Paintings that appear to clients damaged beyond repair, in most cases can be repaired. It’s very rare that a painting can’t be restored or at least we can make a significant improvement so that it still can be enjoyed. It is important though to not overtreat a painting. Schilderijen Restauratie Atelier always strives to keep the conservation and restoration treatment to a minimum.
How long does it take to have something restored?
We have projects in our studio that take less time and projects that take more time to complete. We can usually accommodate our customers scheduling needs and special requests.
Treatment can range from a few days to up to a year, depending on the complexity and scope of a piece. A project timeline will be provided in the proposal estimate following the examination and consultation.
Will I be able to detect the restoration after you have completed the work?
We strive to have the restoration done to be not recognized under normal viewing conditions, but this is not always possible. Furthermore, restorations steps such as retouching can always be distinguished under ultraviolet light.
Will there be a record of treatment?
The length and level of detail in the report may depend on the scale and complexity of the project and the requirements of the owner. Every report contains in any case before, during and after treatment photographs as well as details of the materials used and the treatment carried out
What materials are used for the treatment?
Schilderijen Restauratie Atelier has experience with both traditional, natural materials that are used since centuries but also with modern, synthetic materials. All these materials have one thing in common – they have excellent aging properties and are, depending on the situation, reversible. With my work ethic, I am committed to the Professional Guidelines of E.C.C.O (European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers ‘Organizations).
Painting transport
How do I pack my painting?
If the painting is framed, make sure that it is secure in the frame and that there are no loose pieces that could potentially damage the art while in transit (hanging hardware and wires, fragments from the frame). If a painting is unstable in the frame, or if the frame itself is unstable, remove the painting and wrap it separately.
Wrap the painting in bubble wrap with the bubbles facing away from, rather than against, the surface. Fix on the front side of the painting a sheet of cardboard. The board should be the same size or slightly larger than the piece itself. This will protect the canvas from impact damages.
If a painting is only a few months or years old or is acrylic than do NOT bring the paint surface in contact with packaging material. In that case, it may be necessary to create a shadow box to make sure the packing materials do not come into contact with the surface of the painting and prevent adhesion to the varnish or paint layer.
This packing advice is based on common sense. If a painting is not stable and packed wrongly, damage might occur during transport.
How can I safely transport my painting?
Always plan the route you will take with the painting and make sure it will fit through all the doors and passages. Handle a painting only alone if its light and you can easily carry it. It is in any case always good to have a second pair of hands, that can help open a door etc.
For transport by car, make enough space in the boot of the car and remove items that may come loose and damage the artwork. Create a soft surface to absorb the shock of the road by using a blanket or foam. Place the painting into car and cushion it from each side with foam or rolled up blankets, so the painting cannot move.
Make sure to drive slowly especially on sharp curves or bumps.
This advice is based on common sense. If a painting is not stable and packed wrongly, damage might occur during transport.
Can you recommend an art transport company?
When transporting a highly fragile, valuable or sentimental piece of art it is important to handle and transport it in the safest possible way.
Art transport companies are highly specialized, from handling artworks with gloves, proper packing with new and appropriate materials and transport in suitable trucks, which are temperature and humidity controlled.
Hizkja van Kralingen is a reputable art transport company that we can happily recommend.