Ancient Artifax Restoration

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Reassembly and Major Repairs

Artifacts with major losses or very badly broken need not be a complete loss. Reassembly along with restoration can help any significantly damaged artifact regain its former beauty. Breaks such as these are best left to be repaired by a professional. Proper alignment during reassembly is a critical step for achieving the best results.


Greek Apulian Krater - South Italy, circa 325 BC - 300 BC — A large Greek krater that was accidentally broken by my client's cat. The numerous pieces were assembled and break lines were restored inside and out.
Ancient Greek Apulian Krater South Italy, Before Restoration
Before
Ancient Greek Apulian Krater South Italy, After Restoration
After

Teotihuacan Old Fire God Incensario Brazier — An exceptionally large (monumental) Teotihuacan brazier depicting the 'Old Fire God'. The brazier had previously been assembled from original pieces and losses replaced. It was very badly rebroken in a shipping mishap after being deaccessioned from a museum in Texas. The numerous pieces were assembled and break lines were restored as needed.
Pre-Columbian Teotihuacan Old Fire GOd Brazier Incensario
Before
Pre-Columbian Teotihuacan Old Fire GOd Brazier Incensario
After

Chinese Yuan Dynasty Oil Lamp Replicas — Not a restoration project, these are (museum) replicas created for Sony Entertainment. The oil lamps, one intact and one broken, were made to film the live-action trailer for the Sony Playstation video game "Uncharted - The Nathan Drake Collection". The broken lamp is shown in the trailer. The intact lamp is currently on display at Sony Entertainment's corporate office in San Mateo, California.
Sony Playstation Yuan Dynasty Oil Lamp Prop for Uncharted - Broken
Before
Sony Playstation Yuan Dynasty Oil Lamp Prop for Uncharted - Intact
After


Moche Peccary Vessel — A large Moche storage vessel decorated with a Peccary. The vessel was broken in shipping into approximately 20 pieces. The pieces were assembled and the breaks restored as needed. A custom display stand was also created.
Moche Storage Olla Peccary Vessel - Before
Before
Moche Storage Olla Peccary Vessel - After
After


Colima Turtles Vessel — A very large West Mexican Colima vessel featuring four realistically sculpted turtles. The vessel had been previously restored and broken again into approximately 18 pieces. The pieces were assembled and the breaks restored inside and out.
Colima Turtles Olla Vessel - Before
Before
Colima Turtles Olla Vessel - After
After


Huari Drum Vessel — A large Huari (Wari) drum vessel from ancient Peru. Broken into approximately two dozen pieces; the shards were assembled and the breaks were restored as needed. Due to the rounded form, the artifact would not sit upright and was unstable. A custom stand was created to display the vessel safely.
Huari (Wari) Drum Barrel Vessel - Before
Before
Huari (Wari) Drum Barrel Vessel - After
After


Moche Stirrup Vessel — An early (Phase I) Moche stirrup vessel depicting a bound captive (prisoner). Broken into a half dozen pieces; the pieces were assembled and the breaks were restored as needed.
Moche Captive Prisioner Stirrup Vessel - Before
Before
Moche Captive Prisioner Vessel - After
After


Moche Canchero — A Moche canchero (dipper); fineline painted with running foxes. The vessel was severely damaged in a shipping mishap. The pieces were assembled and the breaks were restored along with minor paint touch ups. A custom stand was created to better display the chancero.
Moche Fineline Canchero Vessel - Before
Before
Moche Fineline Canchero Vessel - After
After


Chimu Canteen — A large, badly broken Chimu blackware canteen decorated with a human figure surrounded by birds and rain-drops. The numerous pieces were assembled and the breaks were restored along with minor paint touch ups. The vessel would not sit upright on its own. A custom metal display stand was created for added stability.
Chimu Blackware Canteen - Before
Before
Chimu Blackware Canteen - After
After


Moche Stirrup Vessel — A broken Moche fineline stirrup vessel depicting mythological warriors in battle. The pieces were assembled and the breaks were restored along with minor paint touch ups.
Moche Fineline Stirrup Vessel - Before
Before
Moche Fineline Stirrup Vessel - After
After


Maya Flared Cylinder — Large post-classic Maya vessel with cinnabar enhanced incising. Assembled from original pieces; the (clean) breaks were restored as needed.
Maya Incised Cylinder - Before
Before
Maya Incised Cylinder - After
After


Anasazi Canteen — Very large Anasazi canteen assembled from nearly 200 pieces, losses were replaced, the breaks were restored and the paint touched up as needed. This artifact was restored for a private collector. Photos are being shown with consent of the client.
Anasazi Canteen - Before
Before
Anasazi Canteen - After
After


Etruscan Vessel — Large Etruscan ribbed vessel, broken into approximately 18 pieces. The shards (sherds) were assembled and the breaks were restored as needed.
Etruscan Vessel - Before
Before
Etruscan Vessel - After
After


Peten Maya Cylinder Vessel — Large Maya cylinder that had been previously assembled from over twenty original pieces. The pieces were badly aligned and there was a vast amount of excess glue. The vessel was taken apart and all the old glue was removed. It was then properly reassembled and the breaks were restored.
Peten Maya Cylinder Vessel - Before
Before
Peten Maya Cylinder Vessel - After
After


Costa Rican Urn — Footed polychrome vessel from Costa Rica, badly broken in a shipping mishap. The pieces were assembled, the break lines restored and the paint touched up as needed.
Costa Rican Vessel - Before
Before
Costa Rican Vessel - After
After


Maya Glyph Bowl — Large Maya polychrome glyph bowl, broken into a dozen pieces. The bowl was assembled and the break-lines were restored.
Maya Glyph Bowl - Before
Before
Maya Glyph Bowl - After
After


Chancay Urn — Very large Chancay figural vessel, badly broken and reassembled from original pieces. The breaks were restored and paint touched up as needed.
Chancay Vessel - Before
Before
Chancay Vessel - After
After


Costa Rican Tripod — Large Costa Rican tripod vessel with highly-adorned reptiles (mythological crocodilian figures) on each rattle leg. Once broken and badly repaired, it was broken again, mostly along old glue lines. The pieces were cleaned of all old glue, properly aligned and restored. Minor losses were replaced as needed.
Costa Rica Lizard Tripod - Before
Before
Costa Rica Lizard Tripod - After
After


Costa Rican Armadillo Tripod — Large Costa Rican tripod vessel with armadillos sitting atop each leg. Previously repaired and broken a second time, the breaks were restored as needed. The missing rattle-balls and other minor losses were replaced.
Costa Rica Aramdillo Tripod - Before
Before
Costa Rica Aramdillo Tripod - After
After


Maya Cylinder — Large Maya cylinder vessel from the Ulua Valley of Honduras. It had been badly broken and poorly glued together. The vessel was taken apart and each piece carefully cleaned of all glue residue. It was then reassembled with the shards properly aligned. The breaks were restored and minor losses were replaced. This stunningly beautiful Maya cylinder is from a private collection. Photos are shown with the consent of the client.
Maya Cylinder - Before
Before
Maya Cylinder - After
After


Moche Figural Vessel — Large Moche figural stirrup vessel in the form of a kneeling woman. The vessel was badly broken in a shipping mishap. The shards were reassembled and the breaks restored as needed.
Moche Vessel - Before
Before
Moceh Vessel - After
After


Moche Vessel — Moche fineline stirrup vessel nicely painted showing warriors in battle. The vessel was shattered into approximately 40 pieces. The shards were assembled, the breaks restored and the paint touched up as needed.
Moche Fineline - Before
Before
Moceh Fineline - After
After


Moche Figure — A small Moche figure, very badly broken in a shipping mishap. The numerous pieces were carefully assembled and the breaks were restored.
Moche Figure - Before
Before
Moceh Figure - After
After


Ixtlan del Rio Figure — An exceptional Nayarit "Ixtlan del Rio" figure. The head and neck was badly broken. Once the pieces were assembled, the breaks were restored and the paint lightly touched up.
Nayarit Figure - Before
Before
Nayarit Figure - After
After


Costa Rican Incised Figure — Very large and rare "Guinea Incised" figure from Costa Rica. The figure was badly broken in shipping. The pieces were carefully assembled and the breaks restored. Only minor fill was needed along with light paint touch ups.
Inca Vessel - Before
Before
Inca Vessel - After
After


Inca Vessel — Inca double-chamber whistle vessel, very badly broken in a shipping mishap. The (clean) breaks were precisely aligned and the break lines restored along with very minor paint touch ups.
Costa Rican Figure - Before
Before
Coats Rican Figure - After
After


Narino Figural Vessel — Rare standing Narino 'Coquero' figure, badly damaged during shipping. The numerous shards were carefully assembled and the breaks were restored.
Narino Vessel - Before
Before
Narino Vessel - After
After


Anasazi Pitcher — Anasazi "Reserve" pitcher with major losses. The entire top portion and handle were missing and the vessel was quite worn and very dirty. After being cleaned, the losses were replaced and painted in patterns appropriate to the style and period.
Anasazi Pitcher - Before
Before
Anasazi Pitcher - After
After


Anasazi Ladle — Large Anasazi ladle with faded paint and missing handle. The faded paint was lightly enhanced and the handle was replaced then painted to match with an appropriate design.
Anasazi Ladle - Before
Before
Anasazi Ladle - After
After


Tang Warrior — Very large Tang Dynasty warrior figure. It had been previously restored (badly), had new breaks and was missing its arms. The old restoration was removed, the broken pieces assembled and the missing arms were recreated and replaced. Proper restoration greatly increased its value and visual appeal.
Tang Figure - Before
Before
Tang Figure - After
After


Moche Warrior Vessel — A Phase IV Moche stirrup vessel with glued breaks. Many of the breaks were rebroken during shipping. Luckily, most of the damage was concentrated on the top and back of the head and around the spout. The pieces were reassembled and the breaks restored. Minor losses were replaced as necessary.
Moche Vessel - Before
Before
Moche Vessel - After
After


Paracas Bowl — Rare and beautiful Paracas bowl with incised designs decorated with resin pigment, along with negative resist dots. The bowl was bady broken into approx. 18 pieces. The shards were carefully assembled and the breaks were restored.
Paracas Bowl - Before
Before
Paracas Bowl - After
After


Nazca Bird Effigy — Nazca stirrup vessel in the form of a bird (waterfowl). Previously repaired and broken again. Pieces were assembled and breaks restored. Also the previous restoration was redone. Paint was touched-up as necessary and the surface lightly burnished.
Nazca Bird Vessel - Before
Before
Nazca Bird Vessel - After
After


Chimu Blackware Vessel — Large Chimu bottle-form vessel, badly broken on one side. The pieces were reassembled and the breaks were restored.
Chimu Vessel - Before
Before
Chimu Vessel - After
After


Costa Rican Galo-ware Olla — Very large Costa Rican carved and painted Galo polychrome olla. This vessel had been previously restored and then badly broken in a shipping mishap. The numerous shards were cleaned of all earlier restoration and reassembled. The breaks were restored and the minor losses were replaced. Note: This piece is from a private collection in British Columbia, Canada. Photos shown with the consent of the client.
Costa Rican Olla - Before
Before
Costa Rican Olla - After
After


Maya Carved Bowl — A rare Maya carved blackware bowl with scroll work wrapping onto the bottom. It had been badly broken and had previous repairs. The shards were cleaned to remove all glues from the earlier restoration attempts. The pieces were then assembled and properly aligned and the breaks restored. Note: This piece is from a private collection in British Columbia, Canada. Photos shown with the consent of the client.
Carved Maya Bowl - Before
Before
Carved Maya Bowl - After
After


Anasazi Bowl — Black on red Anasazi bowl broken along one side. The pieces were assembled and the breaks were restored. This bowl had several (rarely seen) ancient repairs; drill holes that would have been tied with string (or sinew) to repair the cracks in ancient times. The ancient drill holes and the cracks associated with them were, of course, left unrestored. Note: This piece is from a private collection in Ohio. Photos shown with the consent of the client.
Carved Maya Bowl - Before
Before
Carved Maya Bowl - After
After


Mimbres Painted Bowl — This very large Mimbres bowl had been broken into approx. 2 dozen pieces. It had been glued together and partially broken again. Also, there was a moderate amount of paint loss. The shards were assembled, the missing areas (approx. 15%) were replaced and the paint was touched-up as needed.
Mimbres Bowl - Before
Before
Mimbres Maya Bowl - After
After


Mimbres Bowl — Large Mimbres black & white geometric bowl, badly broken with several missing pieces. The original pieces were assembled and the missing areas of the bowl (approx. 35%) were recreated and painted to match. Breaks were restored inside & out.
Mimbres Bowl - Before
Before
Mimbres Bowl - After
After


Paracas Bird Vessel — This beautiful Paracas bowl in the form of a bird was broken into several pieces during shipping. The pieces were carefully assembled and the break-lines were restored inside and out. Clean breaks, properly aligned resulted in the need for very little fill and in-painting. Note: This piece is from a private European collection. Photos are being shown with the consent of the client.
Paracas Bird Vessel - Before
Before
Paracas Bird Vessel - After
After


Moche Portrait Vessel — Moche IV Portrait head was broken in half and had a detached nose. Pieces were reassembled and cracks were restored, also the missing areas of the tubular "tempeta" nose ornament was recreated.
Moche Vessel - Before
Before
Moche Vessel - After
After


Chancay Kero — Broken in a shipping mishap. Clean breaks and proper alignment of the shards resulted in the need for only minor restoration to conceal the cracks.
Chancay Vessel - Before
Before
Chancay Vessel - After
After


Cocle Vessel — Large terracotta Cocle vessel, badly broken, reassembled from original pieces with restoration over the cracks.
Cocle Vessel - Before
Before
Cocle Vessel - After
After


Nal Bowl — Indus Valley, Nal bowl broken into several pieces with minor chips missing. Reassembled and cracks restored.
Nal Bowl - Before
Before
Nal Bowl - After
After


Nazca Kero — This vessel required assembly from around 15 shards. Clean breaks and proper alignment of the joints results in the need for very little filling and in-painting.
Nazca Kero Vessel - Before
Before
Nazca Kero Vessel - After
After


Large Cocle Vessel — This exceptionally large Cocle vessel came to me badly broken into dozens of pieces. At the request of the client, this project was for reassembly only so the cracks were left unrestored.
Cocle Figural Vessel - Before
Before
Cocle Figural Vessel - After
After


Large Nazca Bowl — Reassembled from large shards with minor restoration over the cracks.
Nazca Bowl - Before
Before
Nazca Bowl - After
After


Chimu Blackware Whistle Vessel — Chimu double-chamber vessel, badly broken into a dozen or so pieces. Carefully glued back together & cracks restored. Clean breaks and proper alignment of the shards meant less fill was needed and only minor in-painting was required.
Chimu Vessel - Before
Before
Chimu Vessel - After
After


Islamic Bowls — Two large Islamic bowls. Very badly broken while being shipped together. The shards were sorted and each bowl painstakingly reassembled. The break-lines were then restored inside and out.
Islamic Bowls - Before
Before
Islamic Bowls - After
After


Terracotta Oil Lamp — Ancient oil lamp broken in a shipping mishap. Assembled from original pieces with restored breaks.
Oil Lamp - Before
Before
Oil Lamp - After
After


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