Guys who say old is gold

No matter how hard you try to preserve those treasured heirlooms with time many become brittle and crack easily Poor storage can also result in mold growth or grime and dirt buildup This is where professional conservationists come in Madhura and Anant Shelke say itrsquos not just museums and cultural institutions that should seek out the service of restoration professionals but individuals tooA Raja Ravi Varma paintingConservation is the practice of preserving and extending the life of an actively deteriorating artwork while restoration involves renovating and returning the artefact to its original condition Madhura Shelke says that when she and her husband Anant decided to study restoration and conservation there were no colleges in Mumbai offering these courses They went to the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property in Lucknow and then to the INTACH Conservation Institute in Bhubaneswar to specialise in the conservation of paper and palm leaf manuscriptsMadhura and Anant ShelkeAfter their return to Mumbai they got in touch with galleries and collectors worked at INTACH Mumbai and then at the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum as senior conservators till 2015 During this time they had frequent restoration requests from clients which ultimately led them to start the AMS Fine Art Conservation in Thane in 2011 ldquoArt and artefacts have the power to teach inspire enlighten and evoke emotion Without their protection and preservation we will lose our inheritancerdquo says MadhuraA traditional Chinese vase before and after restorationWhile the Thane outpost has allowed the Shelkes to work on bigger conservation projects in government museums and corporate collections they have also been able to service individuals They have conserved oil and acrylic paintings ceramics metals stones cinema posters textiles sculptures wooden objects lacquerware frames and tapestries among other items ldquoThe conservator and restorerrsquos job is to keep the art object as close to its original state as possible for as long as possible using experience skill and scientific knowledgerdquo explains Anant The results of good restoration he says often seem miraculous especially as the owner of a painting may have never seen it in its original state So depending on the needs of the artefact culturally appropriate and historically accurate materials are specially ordered to complete the treatmentThere are various techniques depending on the material of the artwork and the damages it has gone through Each material must be handled in a unique manner and the selected treatment has to be compatible and reversible in the long run Paintings and their frames says Anant form a complex structure that is easily damaged if knocked over The materials are also sensitive to and can be damaged by environmental extremes and changes in humidity and heat as well as by light dust dirt and pollution ldquoHow well a painting survives over the years depends on keeping it in a good environment and on sensible handling storage and displayrdquoThe Shelkes have attended several conservation seminars workshops and conferences abroad and have been honoured with the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award in 2005 as team members who conserved artefacts at Bycullarsquos Dr Bhau Daji Lad MuseumThe Shelkes now plan to venture into designing displays for museums in India They also conserve and restore paintings and antiques for private clients corporate collections and institutions The time taken to conserve or restore an artefact along with the charges depend on the extent of its damages A project can take anywhere from a week to four months to completeThe materials used for restoration are of international standards and are purchased from suppliers abroadA client must share an image of the art piece that needs repair along with details of the damage and the size of the artwork If necessary they may visit the location to inspect it The price of conserving objects and artefacts starts at Rs 7000Anant Shelke at work on an original Raja Ravi Varma paintingWhat Restoring and conserving damaged artefactsWhere AMS Fine Art ConservationContact amsconservationgmailcom 9820932184