Restoration, Repair And Conservation.

[Daniel Darlow]

1. Restoration = the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition:
   
2. Repair = (something damaged, faulty, or worn) to a good condition.
3. Conservation = using "any methods that prove effective in keeping that property in as close to its original condition as possible for as long as possible.

Three words that can be confused, and misconstrued, especially when dealing with older pieces, a slip of the tongue could cause a problem at a later date. The worst one is 'restored' easily said, very hard to do, to restore to the 'original' condition.
These 2 'Alvari' sofas were viewed after a phone call, as they were bought with the property, and were required to be 'restored', that was cushions re-stuffed, and various scuffs, and pigment loss . As these are very high end prices, the right situation needed to be clarified, as I was working in conjunction with an Upholsterer.
The Upholsterer made remarks to the customer that they would be 'restored' but due to the 'puddling' on the seats any filling would cause the seats to be a problem, I made the comment that they would be 'repaired' to the best of condition, the colouring was a mix of Leather Recolour and Brit Pigment. The sofas were returned to the customer in a more or less mint condition...but not... restored.

 

[Mark Sutcliffe]

happy customer I take it ?

 

[Daniel Darlow]

Yes, very happy Mark.
Quite frightening the cost of these new, but given the size of the panels of leather, you can understand where the costs are.
When you see a sofa with 'one piece' of panel you know that has been selected especially, and not pieces all stitched together. And this was quite a 'bright' white, so any marks and blemishes stood out like a sore thumb.
Still another hurdle crossed.