Please provide us with the following information when submitting an inquiry, and someone from the Trefler’s team will help you determine the next steps.

Please describe your item(s) in as much detail as possible. Information such as dimensions, what materials the item is made of (i.e. wood, plaster, porcelain), and your item’s current condition are all very helpful for our experts to make an accurate estimate.

We suggest providing at least three .jpg images per item. These should include; one image of the entire object, and detailed views of the area(s) of damage and/or pieces. 

If you are submitting an inquiry for painting restoration, please provide an additional photograph of the back of the canvas.

Our team will review all inquiries and assess the best course of action to suit your needs.

We look forward to hearing from you.

 


PROJECTS

The New Bedford Whaling Museum repairs its lamp

A Pairpoint mushroom lamp is restored

Project Type

Glass Repair

About the Project

Department

Decorative Arts

The New Bedford Whaling Museum contacted us with a very special project. Their Pairpoint Mushroom electric lamp, made in the time somewhere between 1907-1929, was in pieces. The peacock feather design of green and gold, fabricated by Robert M. Gundersen, was broken and the original pieces were no longer available.  After much consideration, our glass artist was able to fabricate the pieces, restoring the lamp to its former glory. In general, with glass repair, the repair will always show, however, this project was nevertheless very successful, in part due to the fact that the glass itself was colorful, textured and opaque.

About the Restoration

The lampshade came to the studio in seventeen pieces plus cracks; there were many areas that were missing.

All of the broken pieces were repaired with a 2-part epoxy. The cracks were sealed with a glass sealant. There were large areas that were missing and needed to be fabricated. A silicone mold was made to mimic the shape of the missing areas. The areas were fabricated with a UV cured adhesive that dries clear. These areas were sanded smooth.

All of the fabricated missing areas were colored to match the original color, style, and sheen as closely as possible; pigments suspended in matte lacquer were used.

Before & After

Restoration projects

  • Conservation, with the sea in mind

    This was painted in approximately 1900, by our client’s husband’s Swedish great grandfather. He was a ship captain, and was lost at sea in 1910.
    The painting had a dark layer of discolored varnish and soot obscuring the surface. There were some losses in the paint layer and scratches.
    The restoration process included a cleaning with a combination of solvent solutions. An isolating varnish of Paraloid B-67 with 2% Tinuvin 292 hindered-amine light stabilizer was brushed over the surface. Losses were filled with Flügger and inpainted with pigment ground in Laropal A81 aldehyde resin. A final coat of Paraloid B-67 with Tinuvin was applied.

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  • A Collection of Civil War badges is displayed

    This client’s Great-Great-Grandfather fought in the Civil War for the Indiana 44th Infantry regiment. After the war, he attended many of the GAR reunions, acquiring a badge at each one. After his death, his daughters (both of whom I knew as a child – one as an adult) created the display of badges that you have prepared the shadow box to house. One of his daughters, the Great-Great-Aunt I knew even as an adult, was an invalid and never married. Until her death in the late 1970s she received a Civil War pension as a dependent of a veteran – the princely sum of $11 a month!

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  • The New Bedford Whaling museum repairs its lamp

    The New Bedford Whaling Museum contacted us with a very special project. Their Pairpoint Mushroom electric lamp, made in the time somewhere between 1907-1929, was in pieces.

    Read On

  • An antique carousel horse is restored

    This antique carousel horse was brought to Trefler’s as part of a larger fire claim which included an incredible private collection of fine and decorative artworks. The capabilities of our full-service studio, coupled with the trained hands of our skilled restorers, allowed our team to address damage to the wide array of objects, antiques and artworks that were affected by this unanticipated and unfortunate event.

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  • Framing a Soviet-era shawl woven with family history

    This beautiful Russian shawl was brought into Trefler’s framing department with a story that spans three generations of women.

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  • A Sentimental Armoire Gets An Update

    This piece was incredibly sentimental to its owner, however its original finish was heavy and no longer suited its contemporary surroundings. With the ambition to give this armoire a new aesthetic, Trefler’s furniture department worked extensively with the client to create a custom finish that would re-imagine the piece of furniture by simply refinishing it.

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  • A Family’s Dollhouse is Restored For Future Generations

    This dollhouse was originally played with by Boston architect John Hubbard Sturgis, who would later come to design the Codman House in Lincoln, MA, and the personal residence of Isabella Stewart Gardner.

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  • Original Boston Garden Benches are Given a Custom Base

    This historic artifact was once part of the Boston Garden, and was later acquired by a private collector through a local fundraiser. With hopes of preserving the history of the benches, while also restoring their function, their new owner enlisted Trefler’s team to ensure these benches could be appreciated for years to come.

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  • An Asian Figurine is Put Back Together

    This antique Asian figurine came to Trefler’s in several pieces after taking a fall. Our Decorative Arts Department securely re-attached the figure’s head and shoe. Filling and sanding of the fractured areas was required in order to ensure a smooth surface texture. Finally, the affected areas were painted and color matched to the original glazing, restoring it to its former self.

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  • An Iconic Steamer Trunk is Conserved

    This Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk came to Trefler’s for minor conservation and cleaning. It was presented with its original paper tags and stickers. During its lifetime, its various owners made sure to take the right measures to preserve this artifact. Despite this, it still required some care and attention to help keep it in tip top shape!

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