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!

Our Custom Framing Department designed a display cabinet to specification for this customer’s inherited family heirlooms. The case is made of solid cherry with custom cut detailing and then colored to work with the customers other framed pieces. The hinged door is fronted with Museum Glass to prevent fading and provide visual clarity without reflection. We have concealed a battery powered, remote controlled strip of LED lighting within the frame to illuminate the medals. The design and fabrication of the display case will assure the preservation of these family heirlooms for generations to come.

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.

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.

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.

The restoration process included treatment in our Ozone chamber to remediate damage caused from extensive exposure to smoke and soot. After a thorough cleaning this ornate horse was stripped and refinished to match the original color and patina of the wood; preserving the unique signs of age of this antique.

Additionally, portions of the horse that suffered more extensive damage were treated by filling, sanding and faux painting where detail was lost. Other structural repairs included reversing damage left behind by previous failed repairs, such as re-assembling and securely re-attaching the horse’s tail and left leg.

This beautiful Russian shawl was brought into Trefler’s framing department with a story that spans three generations of women. Over forty years old, this scarf was made in Soviet-era Russia, in the style of Pavlovo Posad, a well known scarf manufacturer in Moscow. This style shawl, ornate with roses and decorative fringe was popularized in the late 19th and early 20th century and often worn tied around the shoulders of women. 

This particular shawl was worn and well loved by the grandmother of our client. A true traveling scarf, it made its way to the United States and became a treasured keepsake of its owner’s granddaughter. To commemorate three generations of women, the scarf was brought to us for a custom frame to be given as a gift to our client’s mother in Florida. 

This keepsake was brought to us for both conservation and custom framing. The goal was to showcase this treasured object, while importantly protecting it from potential damage caused by age, transit and environmental factors. 

When the heirloom shawl arrived at our studio, it was in an extremely fragile condition with loose threading that required immense care when handling. Our conservator carefully stitched and stabilized the textile using conservation mounting and fabric spacers which would create a shadow box effect. The final result would protect the shawl from making contact with the plexiglass enclosure and create a weightless appearance to an otherwise weighty textile. The plexiglass used was chosen in part for its durability in transit, it after all is a traveling scarf, and also for its conservation grade, UV blocking properties. This would ensure that the bold pigments in this beautiful scarf would remain just as bright over time. 

The frame selected is by Larson Juhl and features an elegant gold front with subdued black sides to highlight the detail of this very special keepsake. 

This dollhouse originally belonged to Boston architect John Hubbard Sturgis, best known for designing the Codman House in Lincoln, MA, and the personal residence of Isabella Stewart Gardner. His granddaughters Gertrude, Frances, and Katharine shared afternoons playing with the dollhouse at their home at 154 Brattle Street in Cambridge.

Since, this charming dollhouse has been passed down within the family and enjoyed by countless cousins and grandchildren. Today, Julia still plays with her great great great grandfather’s cherished dollhouse. 

The restoration of this dollhouse included both structural and cosmetic work to ensure that it will be enjoyed for generations to come. Trefler’s Decorative Arts department filled missing chips and holes, secured and stabilized chimneys and fixed the hinged roof. 

Because of the age of this piece, there was lead paint which required sealing to make this safe for play, especially for the little ones. The roof was filled and fauxed and primed with primer and then sealed to encase the lead paint, as was the exterior paint. 

Some cosmetic restoration work was required, including touchups where paint had worn away over the years. This tiny home was updated by removing old wallpaper and giving a fresh coat of paint inside and out.