SERVICES OFFERED
Please contact Sanchita Balachandran for the cost associated with the following services. The cost of each project may vary according to the scope and complexity of the conservation treatment. Generally, fees are quoted as a cost per hour or per day of conservation work.
What do you mean by "objects"?
"Objects" are three-dimensional works that can be made from a variety of inorganic materials including stone, ceramic, metal, or plaster as well as organic materials such as wood, plant fibers, leather, and other manipulated natural materials. Plastics or other engineered materials are also often found in modern or contemporary works of art. Objects are often composites of different kinds of materials and may involve paint layers, coatings, or other decorative elements in a variety of media. On occasion, Sanchita has also worked on human remains such as mummies in museum collections or newly excavated bodies on archaeological sites. Sanchita does not conserve paintings, works of art on paper, or textiles, but can recommend conservators specializing in these fields.
Most of the treatment examples on your site show museum-owned objects or archaeological objects. I have a family heirloom or object of great personal value that I want conserved--not a museum object. Would you still be interested in working on it?
Certainly. The Studio's clients are a combination of museum institutions and individuals. In fact, some of the most challenging and satisfying projects have come from individual collectors. See for example the plaster sculpture of Winston Churchill on the Treatment Examples page. The examples highlighted on this website are meant to provide an introduction to some of the more interesting and involved projects that I have completed recently.
Object Examinations and Treatment Proposals
Sanchita examines three-dimensional objects and sculptures in need of conservation and offers clients brief conservation treatment proposals for their treatment. An initial examination is generally free of charge; however, fees may apply for a treatment proposal. Proposals include a statement of the goal of the conservation treatment, proposed treatment methodology and materials, and a cost estimate for the treatment. Clients should note that proposals can only estimate the scope and cost of a conservation treatment; while every effort is made to adhere to the estimate, occasionally, the treatment of an object reveals additional conservation problems which require more time to stabilize.
Conservation Treatments
Once a client approves the treatment proposal, the conservation treatment can begin. The client is kept informed as to the progress of the treatment and consulted for approval if there are any changes in the treatment scope or protocol. Upon completion of the treatment, the client receives a full written report and photographic documention of the treatment for his/her records.
Conservation Assessments and Surveys
Sanchita offers conservation surveys of art and artifact collections. These surveys can range from brief assessments of the general condition and priorities of a collection to in-depth object-by-object assessments of a series of objects. Full written reports and photographic documentation of the surveys are provided to the client at the end of the survey. If requested, Excel spreadsheets or FileMaker Pro documents generated during the surveys can be provided to the client.
Archaeological Fieldwork and Site Work
Sanchita welcomes opportunities to undertake conservation work on archaeological or historic sites. She has previously carried out fieldwork on sites in Egypt, the United States, Canada, Cambodia, Tunisia and India. Some of these projects have been under the aegis of the National Park Service, the World Monuments Fund, and the Pennsylvania-Yale-Institute of Fine Arts Expedition to Abydos. Please refer to the Treatment Examples page for some images of conservation work in the field.