Anastasia Alexander Art Restoration Studio has been doing restoration in Cape Town for more than 20 years. They render services to a wide clientele, including Antique Dealers, Art Galleries, Auction Houses, Museums and Private Collectors.
The restorers of this studio studied in St. Petersburg, Russia, where they qualified as painting restorers, frame restorers and gilders.
Many Universities and Colleges in Europe offer diploma courses in Fine Art Restoration. However, a certificate in Fine Art Restoration is just the beginning of the never-ending process of learning. Every object that comes to the studio has its own story of damage and deterioration, and every object has to be regarded as a patient coming to a doctor to seek help. Most important are the experience and continued practice of the restorer and willingness to expand horizons beyond mere book-learning.
Art restoration is a dying skill involving a great deal of patience and diligence, as well as the use of a large variety of materials. Normally, the restoration process must follow certain traditional methods and rules that have been developed over hundreds of years, making use of particular primers, canvases, pigments and varnishes in order to bring the piece as close to its original state as possible. However, in modern times with new technologies and materials, an art restorer has to be artist first, in order to understand how to use the new tools and bring the best out of every painting, frame or piece of furniture without interfering with the original.
Every household has its precious little piece of art which on occasion gets into trouble, be it flood or fire, or a naughty child shooting at a painting with a toy gun. It could be that the varnish on a painting has degenerated to such a point that one can no longer see the detail or the colours of the painting. Anybody who collects art needs an art restorer, particularly because it's always easier to sell an object if it is in good condition. There are many fake antiques on the market, but any respectable restorer should be able to examine an art piece or run a test and detect a forgery.
Anastasia Alexander Art Restoration will be delighted to offer its expertise, advice and services for all your restoration requirements.
"Portrait of a Lady"
19th Century
