Restoration

A technique used to fix cosmetic issues such as: missing paper, tears, missing color, faded color, and stains. We like to take a minimalist approach when performing restoration and use archival materials and mediums. Our team is great at color matching and color enhancing. We can perform spot airbrush when necessary in order to achieve our client's desired results.

Linen Backing

When your item comes into our studio, its paper may be weak and fragile, and linen backing is a great way to stabilize it. Using an archival paste, we mount your poster to a stretched canvas frame that has been lined with a sheet of acid-free paper. The screen is left to dry and when it's time to trim your poster off the frame, your poster is flat with a sturdy and flexible backing. This method is ideal whether you intend to immediately frame your poster or keep it rolled in storage. 

Paper Backing

Paper backing is a method preferred by some institutions with very large collections of posters. It serves to fortify the poster without the added weight of a canvas backing. Using an archival and fully reversible paste, the poster is mounted to Okawara paper, which is in turn temporarily mounted to a board for drying purposes. After the backed poster is dry, it can be trimmed off the board and will be perfectly flat.

Sizing/Resizing

In some situations, resizing can be a great alternative to linen or paper backing.  During the resizing process, the back of the paper is saturated with a liquid sizing agent and then temporarily mounted to a board. The paper is left to dry, and when removed from the board, it is flat without any visible backing. The sizing agent serves as a fortification for the ingredient that holds paper fibers together.  It is ideal for lobby cards, inserts, window cards, some half sheets, and crate labels.

Relining

Removing an old backing from a poster is called relining. If a poster has been archivally linen backed with the proper materials, the reline can be simple. If the poster has been backed using anything else, the reline can be more complicated, time consuming, problematic, and damaging to the poster. Unorthodox backings are not always difficult to remove, but they can be, and estimates on price can only be given after a thorough inspection and test is performed. 

Bleaching

We use a safe and gentle conservation bleach. This process can help lighten paper color that has darkened due to high acid content. It can also brighten dulled inks and remove water stains and spots caused by foxing.

Dehinging/Tape Removal

When a piece of art is framed, it is almost always hinged. The hinges are several pieces of tape connecting the artwork to its undermount. When it comes time to reframe the artwork, the hinges need to be removed. Often this can be done without the help of professionals, but you run the high risk of damaging the artwork and removing a layer of paper along with the tape. When you bring the piece to us, we can cleanly remove the tape without damage to the artwork.

Etc.

Fourth Cone has the ability to fix, restore, repair, and reconstruct a wide range of items. Original wallpaper, LP covers, book jackets, tin signs, bas reliefs, globes, daguerrotypes, baseball cards, standees (cardboard cutouts), calendars, all kinds of vintage store displays, fabric banners, paintings and collages are just a few of the situations we have experience with. No matter what state your treasure may be in, do not write it off as finished. We may be able to help.

Artwork by Commission

Melissa is an oil painter. Katie is an embroiderer. Both women are classically-trained artists who take commissions. This means you can hire either lady to make a portrait of your pet, child, loved one, or whatever subject matter you choose.