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Objects Conservation – Preserving Sculptures, Ceramics, Wood & More

Objects Conservation for Museums, Communities & Families

ICA’s objects conservation team cares for three-dimensional artworks and artifacts—from bronze sculptures and historic furniture to delicate ceramics, glass, and mixed media. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, we serve Ohio and the greater Midwest, with projects nationwide. Whether your piece lives near University Circle, Over-the-Rhine, the Short North, Mt. Adams, the North Shore, or Broad Ripple, we provide careful assessment and treatment so important objects can be displayed, stored, or shared with confidence.

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Materials We Treat

Metals, Ceramics, Stone, Wood, Glass, Mixed Media, & More

We treat a wide range of materials and finishes commonly found in museum and private collections. Metals (bronze, copper alloys, silver, iron) often arrive with corrosion or failing coatings; ceramics and glass may need ceramic conservation or reassembly after breakage; stone and plaster require cleaning and stabilization; wood, leather, bone, and other organics can show cracks, surface loss, or pest damage; plastics and contemporary composites benefit from gentle cleaning and stabilization tailored to their chemistry.

Common Treatments

From Structural Repairs to Surface Conservation

Typical object treatments include surface cleaning to remove grime or failing polish; corrosion reduction on metalwork; rejoining broken components with conservation-grade adhesives; fills and color integration where material is missing; consolidation of flaking gilding or paint; custom mounts and supports for display; and protective coatings to slow future deterioration. For outdoor works—lakefront bronzes on the North Coast, plaza sculptures in Public Square, campus pieces in Columbus—we also address weathering, salt exposure, and freeze–thaw cycles as part of sculpture restoration and ongoing care.

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Outdoor Sculptures & Monuments

Weathered Bronze, Stone, and Steel

Outdoor objects face unique challenges: UV exposure, pollutants, moisture, and winter de-icing salts. ICA performs on-site cleaning, condition surveys, patina care, waxing and coating programs, join repairs, and recommendations for maintenance schedules. From lakefront installations near the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to campus sculptures in Oakland (Pittsburgh) and the Arena District (Columbus), we tailor treatments to site conditions and long-term goals.

Process & Documentation

Clear Examination, Proposal, and Care Guidance

Every project begins with an examination and written condition report, followed by a treatment proposal outlining goals, steps, and materials. When appropriate, we include preventive recommendations—environmental targets, handling guidance, and storage solutions—to support the object’s long-term preservation. Work is documented with before-and-after photography and a summary of materials and methods.

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Project Highlights

A brown, textured figurine of a cloaked, bearded figure in a wide-brimmed hat holding a tall wooden staff.
A bronze-toned sculpture of a bearded wizard in a wide-brimmed hat holding a staff, set on a black square base.

Gandalf figurine (2024.013)

Private client

Treatment Summary: This cast resin sculpture depicting the wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings arrived in eight fragments, the result of inadequate packing during transit. Following careful surface cleaning, ICA reassembled the sculpture, securing it with conservation-grade adhesive. All visible break lines were then filled and inpainted, seamlessly integrating repairs with the surrounding resin to recover the figure’s original appearance. The treatment successfully returned the iconic wizard to a stable and visually unified state, ready once again for display.

Client Quote: “ICA-Art Conservation summoned more magic than all five wizards of Middle-Earth combined to bring this Gandalf back to life! Originally, this statue was in worse shape than when Boromir was full of arrows. Now I cherish this work of art even more than the One Ring. I could not be a happier Hobbit!” -Jake Rupp

A pale, stone theatrical mask with curled hair and an open, gaping mouth, against a black background.
A white marble mask of a classical theatrical character with ringlet curls, wide open eyes, and an open, gaping mouth.

Roman mask (2022.028)

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

Treatment Summary: This marble theatrical mask (ca. 300 CE) was brought to ICA for cleaning and to address the orange-brown staining, consistent with burial. The object was surface cleaned to remove accumulated soiling and localized poulticing methods were applied to reduce the stains. Treatment improved legibility of carved details while retaining evidence of age and use.

A brown, spherical-headed statue wearing a top hat and tie, sitting and reading an open book on a stone ledge.
A brown, stylized sculpture of a figure wearing a top hat and tie while reading a large, open book on a stone ledge.
A brown metal gate featuring cut-out letters and small human-like figures climbing its frame and top in a park setting.
A weathered metal gate in an urban park, cut with abstract patterns and featuring small bronze figures climbing on it.

Tom Otterness, The Gates, 1998, bronze (2023.131)

Cleveland Public Library

Treatment Summary: The Gates (1998) by Tom Otterness comprise two sets of monumental bronze double gates and multiple smaller figurative elements installed in the Eastman Reading Garden at Cleveland Public Library. Like all outdoor sculpture, this work accumulates dust, dirt, and grime. This work also had copper corrosion consistent with environmental exposure, such as street salts. ICA washed all elements to remove surface soiling and reduce active corrosion. Following cleaning, a protective wax coating was applied to the bronze surfaces to provide a barrier against moisture and pollutants.

A tall, dark bronze sculpture with two abstract vertical forms, each containing multiple circular cutouts, on a pedestal.
A dark, two-piece abstract metal sculpture with circular cutouts featuring blue accents, set on a base outdoors.

Barbara Hepworth, Two Figures, 1968, bronze with blue paint (2021.004b)

Newfields

Treatment Summary: The bronze sculpture was treated over three days to stabilize its surfaces and improve overall appearance. Previous wax coatings were reduced using heat and mineral spirits, and areas of copper oxidation on the base were mechanically and chemically reduced. The surface was then cleaned with a dilute detergent, rinsed, and recoated with a protective hot application of paste wax, with pigmentation added at the base for visual integration. Flaking and powdering paint within the apertures was consolidated, and losses were inpainted with pigmented Permalac to match the more intact paint at the back of the recesses.

Regional Reach

Rooted in Cleveland, Serving the Midwest—and Beyond

We support museums, historical societies, universities, and private collectors across Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis, with coordinated shipping and packing and transportation options. If an object is too large or fragile to travel, our team can plan on-site conservation to stabilize and treat it in place.

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FAQ: Answers to Common Questions About Object Conservation

  • My statue is broken into several pieces. Can it be repaired?

    Often, yes. We rejoin fragments with conservation-grade adhesives, fill losses where appropriate, and tone those fills to blend with adjacent surfaces. The aim is structural stability and visual coherence while respecting original materials.

  • What kinds of objects do you treat?

    Metal sculpture, outdoor bronze, ceramic pottery and porcelain, glass, carved stone and plaster, wood and organics, mixed media, and decorative arts. If you’re unsure about a material, send photos and details for an initial review.

  • How do you address rust or corrosion on metal artifacts?

    Treatment typically involves identifying corrosion, gently removing active products, and applying a protective coating or wax system to slow future change. For outdoor works, we also recommend maintenance intervals suited to local conditions.

  • Can you help with fading or flaking paint on a statue?

    Yes. We stabilize flaking paint or gilding with precise consolidation and, when suitable, inpaint areas of loss to create legibility. The approach is tested and tailored to the object and its context.

  • Do you offer ceramic conservation for shattered items?

    We routinely reassemble ceramics and glass, filling losses and integrating color where appropriate. The goal is a stable,  readable object ready for display or storage.

  • Do you work on-site for large or fixed pieces?

    Yes. For murals, monumental sculpture, or fixtures that cannot travel, we plan on-site conservation with appropriate equipment and environmental controls.

  • How do I start and what will I receive?

    Begin with an examination leading to a condition report and treatment proposal. After treatment, you receive documentation and care guidance, including preventive steps and recommended handling.