How is a leather artefact handled and transported?
The transport of heritage objects requires extreme care. Depending on the requirements, the nature and fragility of the artefacts, several options are available:
- On-site handling: For immovable items (wall hangings, fixed altar frontals) or highly fragile pieces, the 2CRC will visit the site directly to assess or carry out work in situ.
- Secure transport: If the artefact needs to be restored in the workshop, we manage the removal of the decorations, their packaging (using neutral materials and specific padding) and their transport. The 2CRC also works with a specialist art transport company for journeys between Paris and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Alternatively, transport may be arranged by you, subject to a strict protocol that we define together.
Do you offer an initial assessment or remote expert evaluation?
The analysis of antique leather requires a thorough visual and technical examination, whether it concerns an archaeological shoe, seat upholstery or gilt leather decoration.
An initial email exchange allows us to assess the request and evaluate the nature of the requirement. However, a formal expert assessment or condition report constitutes a specific service. This involves essential research time to precisely identify any damage, determine the necessary treatments and provide a detailed cost estimate.
What types of leather items do you work on?
The workshop is dedicated exclusively to historical heritage, museum collections and high-value private collections. We work on a wide variety of items:
- Wall hangings: Polychrome gilt leathers known as ‘Córdoban leathers’ (as well as altar frontals and screens).
- Ethnographic & archaeological objects: archaeological and historical footwear, small leather goods, bags, boxes, chests, musical instruments, antique clothing, etc.
- Collectors’ furniture: Upholstery for antique chairs and heritage upholstery.
Note: The workshop does not undertake work on contemporary upholstery, current fashion leather goods or standard living room furniture.
Why is restoration work accompanied by a documentation file?
Every project includes the provision of a complete restoration file, which is returned with the artwork. The ‘written report’, which is richly illustrated, sets out in detail the condition assessment, the methods used and the exact nature of the products applied. The “documentary file” contains all the digital images taken before, during and after the conservation work.
The aim is twofold: to ensure full traceability and to enable future generations of conservators-restaurateurs to learn about the object’s history and the interventions carried out, and to understand how these have evolved so that they can easily reverse the restoration.
Are your interventions reversible?
Absolutely. In accordance with the code of ethics for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, all techniques and products used (adhesives, solvents, consolidants) are selected for their long-term stability and their reversibility. The aim is to stabilise the object and restore its legibility without ever permanently altering the original material, thus allowing for reversal should scientific research require it in the future.
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Do you work in accordance with the standards of the French National Heritage?
Yes. My qualifications and professional background enable me to meet the requirements of public specifications (DRAC, Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, national, regional and international museums). The protocols applied strictly adhere to international charters for the conservation of cultural property.
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Can Gilt leather that has been damaged by damp or warping be restored?
Yes, leather is a sensitive organic material that reacts strongly to changes in temperature and humidity. When dealing with gilt leather that has dried out, warped or been attacked by micro-organisms, the process begins with stabilising its environment. Next, in the workshop or on site, we carry out a controlled cleaning, a biocide treatment if necessary, and mechanical reshaping to restore the surface to its original flatness. The result, however, depends on what the items have previously been subjected to.
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What is the role of preventive conservation in relation to restoration?
Preventive conservation acts as a preventative measure, whereas restoration is carried out once deterioration has already occurred. Even before considering major conservation work, I work with collection managers (museums, castles, churches) to assess the conditions under which the gilt leathers are displayed or stored. Regulating light, controlling relative humidity and ensuring the correct presentation of gilt leathers are key to halting the deterioration of the art works before it becomes irreversible.
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