Gilt Complex available services
The Gilt Complex offers a variety of conservation services, including: Painting Conservation, Frame Conservation and Gilding and Paper Conservation. The Gilt Complex also offers Door to Door Service.
Painting Conservation
The Gilt Complex specializes in conservation of oil paintings. Methods of painting conservation are:
- Cleaning and Varnish removal
- All accumulated dirt and aged or discolored varnish is removed. A proper varnish is given to protect your cleaned painting.
- Relining of paintings on canvas
- This process is used to correct gesso failure, dry/brittle canvas and punctures. It involves removing the painting from its stretcher bars and backing the existing canvas with a new, stable piece of linen. The painting is then re-stretched on the original stretcher bars or replacements.
- Repairing of Tears and abrasions
- Should retouch or repair of missing paint be necessary, conservation is performed using the highest quality materials. All conservation is reversible and will appear under ultra-violet light.
Frame Conservation & Gilding
We have the skills to duplicate any finish:
- 22kt gold leaf or 18kt white gold (oil gilding and burnished/water gilding)
- Gold metal leaf (composition) or silver
- Wood, veneer and faux finishes
Paper conservation
The Gilt Complex offers expert paper conservation and repair. Methods include:
- De-Acidification
- Old works on paper were often assembled in their frames improperly. Framers would choose wood backing or materials similar to cardboard. The acids in these materials will often bleed into the work, forming stains and deterioration. Our process can prevent further deterioration and often strengthen the artwork.
- Treatment for mold
- Mold spores from damp conditions can form on paper art. If not treated, the mold can spread and destroy the piece.
- Stain Removal and Lightening
- Stains and spots can often be removed to almost nothing without losing ink, pain and even pencil.
- Removal of mounted items
- Papers were often mounted to cardboard, wood and other substrates. These items can generally be removed in order to further conserve the artwork.
- Rice paper supports
- Tears and other damages often require this type of stabilization.
Door to Door Service
The gilt complex provides efficient and expert service to Art/ Framing galleries, museums, businesses, and corporations.
The gilt complex provides a service that is rarely found in today's business. We offer museum quality conservation/ restoration, timely estimates, framing, and appraisals to businesses up and down the east coast. We travel to your location and provide you with free estimates or expert consultation. By offering wholesale prices, this allows our clients to provide their customers with our services and remove the hassle of shipping or transporting their customers' fine art to our location, while also adding a profitable aspect to their business.