Graphic Conservation Company

Graphic Conservation Company World-class art conservation and preservation of works of art on paper and parchment.

Book your free consultation here: https://GraphicConservationCo.as.me/
Oak Park is several miles west of Chicago, Illinois.

Flashback Friday!!In the world of conservation, proper display and storage preservation go hand in hand. It is super cri...
11/14/2025

Flashback Friday!!
In the world of conservation, proper display and storage preservation go hand in hand. It is super critical to display all art using the materials specific to museum quality preservation. This paper document with four additional medals came to our lab crammed into a small frame with no matting or support for the items. The medal's textile ribbons were pinned to the back of frame causing creasing, fraying and staining of the fabric. The paper document was directly in contact with the glass on the front and acidic wood pulp board on the back, which led to the severe aging and staining of the paper. The conservator carefully removed all the items from the frame and then gently surfaced cleaned both the document and textile medals. The staining of the document was treated using aqueous methods and then was gently flattened. The ribbons attached to the medals were locally humidified, flattened and consolidated. After treatment was complete, a multi-window, unbuffered mat package was created to display all of the items together again. The mat was then placed between a pH neutral backing board and UV-filtering, shatterproof acrylic glazing. Finally, the package was placed into its new ash wooden frame with a burnt sugar finish - one of our favorite!

Get a quote to treat your fine art on paper or family documents by emailing [email protected] or calling (312)738-2657.

11/12/2025

This 1932 family cookbook came to us as a well-used collection of handwritten recipes and unbound pages. Years of handling had weakened the binding, leaving the spine weak and the covers detached from the text block.

The spine and front cover were carefully repaired, then each page was digitized to preserve its culinary history and reduce handling of the fragile original. Finally, the cookbook and loose items were housed in a custom cloth-covered box, ensuring this family treasure is protected for generations to come.

Get a quote to treat your fine art on paper or family documents by emailing [email protected] or calling (312)738-2657.

This 1932 family cookbook arrived as a well-loved collection of handwritten recipes and loose pages — a true testament t...
11/10/2025

This 1932 family cookbook arrived as a well-loved collection of handwritten recipes and loose pages — a true testament to years of use in the kitchen. Time and handling had taken their toll: the binding was extremely fragile, with the covers detached from the text block.

Conservation efforts focused on carefully repairing the spine and front cover to restore structural stability. Each page was also digitized to preserve the cookbook’s rich culinary history, so its recipes can be shared without further wear on the original.

Get a quote to treat your fine art on paper or family documents by emailing [email protected] or calling (312)738-2657.

Flashback Friday!!Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a Russian Jewish artist involved with a variety of European avant-garde m...
11/07/2025

Flashback Friday!!
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a Russian Jewish artist involved with a variety of European avant-garde movements in the early 20th century. Chagall's work differs from his peers because it is largely figurative and allegorical, reconciling themes of Jewish folklore and mysticism with distinctly modern styles. In 1941, Chagall immigrated to the United States to escape persecution by the Nazi’s and worked creating backdrops for the Ballet Theatre of New York. He traveled extensively in his later years, creating large-scale commissions for civic and religious buildings including the America Windows at the Art Institute of Chicago. Chagall’s renowned work continues to be exhibited around the world today.

This color lithograph, The Game, 1966 had been on display directly in contact with acidic framing materials. The old matting and old hinging was removed and later replaced with 100% museum quality buffered rag board and UV filtering glazing. The conservation treatment focused on the overall stain reduction of the paper as well as old hinge and adhesive removal from the back of the art.

Get a quote to treat your fine art on paper or family documents by emailing [email protected] or calling (312)738-2657.

11/05/2025

This well-loved souvenir menu had clearly seen years of handling and history. Originally folded in half, it showed signs of heavy wear — weakened paper, corner losses, tears, and tape repairs with adhesive staining.

Conservation treatment began with the careful mechanical removal of old tapes and the reduction of adhesive residues and staining. The paper losses were filled, tears repaired, and the entire menu was gently washed, humidified, and flattened.

Now stabilized and refreshed, Joe Louis and the Brown Bomber’s Chicken Shack menu once again reflects its original charm and character — a preserved piece of culinary and cultural history.

Get a quote to treat your fine art on paper or family documents by emailing [email protected] or calling (312)738-2657.

The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is commemorating the devastating Florence flood of November 4th, 1966, whi...
11/04/2025

The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is commemorating the devastating Florence flood of November 4th, 1966, which caused significant damage to invaluable cultural heritage. The aftermath of the catastrophe witnessed remarkable conservation efforts to salvage the affected items, contributing to the growth and recognition of the field. In honor of this international collaboration, AIC has established "Ask a Conservator Day," providing an opportunity for people to engage with conservators and expand their knowledge about preservation.

To shed light on the Florence flood, we present a series of photographs collected by Harold W. Tribolet, a dedicated employee of Graphic Conservation Company / Donnelly and Sons Co. from 1927 to 1973.

These images depict the arduous restoration work undertaken in the aftermath of the disaster:

Image One: A Benedictine Monk separates with forceps the crumbling fragments of an ancient [document].

Image Two: Damaged books from the flooded State Archives were removed to the Piazzale degli Uffizi.

Image Three: Italian and American students work together at the State Archives to salvage thousands of books damaged in the flood.

Image Four: Students removed flood-damaged books from the State Archives for restoration at temporary stations set up in and around Florence.

Image Five: Thousands of wet books were hung up to dry on fifty-foot racks in the Perugia To***co factory, about 125 miles from Florence.
Get a quote to treat your fine art on paper or family documents by emailing photos of your project to [email protected] or calling (312)738-2657.

11/03/2025

We’re revisiting a fascinating piece of early American print history — The Pennsylvania Journal, also known as the “tombstone edition,” first published on October 31, 1765. At Graphic, we were thrilled to bring this remarkable artifact back to life, and we’re excited to share it again.

Check out our latest posts for more on the treatment process!

Got artwork or cherished family documents needing attention? Reach out! Send us photos at [email protected] or give us a call at (312)738-2657.

10/31/2025

Meet our seasonal intern, Petronius 'Petro' Gervase! 🌕✨ This Conservation Werewolf brought his love for paper and parchment to Graphic Conservation Co. this week. 📜

Not sure how much was accomplished, but he definitely 'howled' his way into adding something special to the space! 🐺💖

📚 Education: Master’s in Lycanthropy with a Minor in Pre-Germanic Literature from Transylvania University.

10/29/2025

This casebound copy of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley has a timeless cover design. Conservation efforts have restored the book's original beauty, despite signs of wear like fraying threads, losses, and moisture damage. Whether you're a Frankenstein enthusiast or new to the story, this exquisite copy is a treasure for literature lovers!

If you have your own fine art on paper or family documents in need of preservation, contact us for a personalized quote. Email photos of your project to [email protected] or give us a call at (312)738-2657.
Music by Quincy Chen-Marusich

10/27/2025

✝️Make every day in December a special day that points towards the true and most special meaning of Christmas —our Rescuer, Jesus ✨Celebrate the days of Advent in the most heartwarming way—unveil the story of Christmas one adorable handcrafted figurine at a time! This Nativity Advent Calendar turns each day of anticipation into a joyful surprise, letting you and your loved ones soak in the magic of the season as you count down to Christmas.🎄
https://www.laboinshop.com/products/nativity-advent-calendar

10/24/2025

Flashback Friday!!
Aqueous and mechanical board removal -
This historic document had been mounted overall to acidic wood pulp board, probably by a framer. First we mechanically thinned down the board. The final layer of board, seen here, is being gently and slowly removed.
It’s important to avoid placing acidic material, such as cardboard, wood or wood pulp board, next to works on paper. The acids can migrate from the wood pulp material to the work on paper causing weakening and staining of the paper.

Get a quote to treat your fine art on paper or family documents by emailing [email protected] or calling (312)738-2657.

10/22/2025

In today’s post, we’re sharing the third installment in the conservation journey of this amazing issue of The Pennsylvania Journal, dated October 31, 1765. The final stage of treatment involved joining the front and back pages, which had arrived separated with paper loss along the original fold. Now, 260 years after its publication, this historic newspaper can once again be viewed and handled safely.

Got artwork or cherished family documents needing attention? Reach out! Send us photos at [email protected] or give us a call at (312)738-2657.

Address

840 S. Oak Park Avenue Suite 209
Oak Park, IL
60304

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6am
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm

Telephone

+13127382657

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