Museums & Galleries

“Change as much as necessary, as little as possible”
The Burra Charter, 2013

Patinations plays an important role in supporting curators, collection managers, registrars and institutional conservation teams by offering heritage services that compliment inhouse expertise in caring for historic collections, interiors and architectural timbers.

For over two decades, we have has worked with national institutions, regional museums and galleries, historic houses, heritage architects and private collectors on projects ranging from hands on conservation of individual objects, to leading disaster recovery efforts, preparing advice and specifications for collection care and the project management of major conservation works.

Across the varied heritage and arts sectors we tailor our services to assist staff, volunteers and managers to deliver practical and professional conservation solutions.

Patinations carries comprehensive workplace insurance cover and professional indemnity including during transport and on-site engagement.

Services

  • Preservation, conservation, and restoration of timber finishes
  • Traditional and contemporary hand-applied finishes including, French polish, shellac, wax and oil finishes
  • Timber staining and colour matching
  • Structural repairs, joinery and traditional cabinet-making
  • Veneer and marquetry work
  • Lathe turning and carving
  • Gilding, boulle, mother of pearl, shell, horn, and other decorative finishes
  • Hardware repairs, re-casting, or replacement

Collections

  • Condition surveys and assessments
  • Maintenance, handling, and care instructions
  • Investigation and identification of timber identification and furniture history
  • Pre-purchase furniture inspections
  • Consultancy for conservation specifications
  • Project management for larger conservation works
  • Insurance assessments and disasters response i.e. fire and rain storms
  • Workshops and training for staff

Experience

Patinations is privileged to work with a diverse range of Heritage & Cultural Organisations

  • Admiralty House
  • Australiana Fund
  • Australian National University
  • Calthorpes House
  • Coolringdon Homestead (University of Sydney)
  • Cooma Cottage (NSW National Trust)
  • Department of Parliamentary Services
  • Dubbo Gaol
  • Duntroon Royal Military College
  • Embassies and diplomatic corp
  • Government House – Yarralumla
  • Historic Houses Trust NSW (Sydney living museums)
  • Kirribilli House
  • Lanyon Homestead
  • Menzies House
  • Mugga Mugga Cottage
  • National Gallery of Australia
  • National Museum of Australia
  • National Trust ACT
  • Old Parliament House – (MOAD)
  • Prime Ministers Lodge ACT
  • Reserve Bank of Australia ACT
  • Rose Seidler House
  • Saint Johns (Reid)
  • Saint Saviours’s Cathedral (Goulburn)
  • University of Sydney Fisher Library

Publications

Identification of the wood used to make the Riley Cabinet: A historically significant example of early Australian convict-built furniture. 2010

The Australiana Fund: Collecting for the Nation, 2017. Author of chapter, Caring for a working collection.

Inaugural Australian Furniture History Symposium 2007 – The Furniture History Society

International Specialised Skills Institute (ISS) Fellowship. Conservation and Restoration of clear coatings on furniture architectural timbers. 2006.

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship. Studying Antique Furniture Conservation and Restoration in the UK, Germany and France. 2000

Canberra Times Article, 2006

Australian Wood Review: Profile