Joel Oppenheimer

Joel Oppenheimer, Inc., a nationally renowned art facility, was founded in 1969 by the conservator for the Department of Prints and Drawings of the Art Institute of Chicago to fulfill the need for professional conservation services in the private sector. We maintain an apprenticeship program and train our own staff, all of whom hold degrees in fine... arts and art history. Our staff can analyze and perform corrective treatment for anything that is on paper. This includes drawings, prints, maps, photographs, documents, and oriental screens. Our laboratories have developed and perfected techniques for restoration of paper, which enable us to retain delicate pigments, signatures, and hand coloring. Fine art restoration is divided into specific areas of expertise. Restoring a painting or drawing, is in essence problem solving related to the "substrate" or, material on which the piece is executed. The techniques for treating a painting on paper are usually very different from those used to treat a painting on canvas. With our expertise in both art and science, Joel Oppenheimer, Inc. employs the care and attention to detail of old world craftsmanship while utilizing state-of-the-art technology. Each piece and problem is treated with singular care. Our clients include major museums which require our particular expertise, smaller museums, which do not have their own restoration facilities, galleries, institutions, and private collectors nationwide. In this guide we will answer frequently asked questions about paper restoration; help you identify the kinds of damage that can occur to paper and explain what can be done to prevent and remedy these problems. With a broader knowledge of the principles of paper conservation and restoration, collectors can better preserve and care for their valued works on paper.Read More