Cherished objects have more to do with sentiment than with money, which is why when such items break, your heart breaks right along with them.
The chipped crystal goblet, the third-generation rocker, the mute mantel clock-all elicit little jabs of pain.
Can such heirlooms be revived? We went to the experts-galleries, museums, architects-and asked where they go for repairs.
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Although no list can be comprehensive, here are the names that were mentioned repeatedly. They are artisans, not handymen, often practicing Old World craftsmanship.
As a rule, prices can`t be predicted without seeing the objects in question. And be sure to allow enough time for the work to be done right, especially during the holidays.
A
AFRICAN ART:
Les Primitifs (706 N. Wells St., 312-787-9440), an 18-year-old gallery, can handle such exotic repairs as restoration of New Guinea pottery, Yoruba beaded costume work, and tribal jewelry restringing. Prices vary according to the job and extent of damage.
B
BOOKS:
Museums and theological seminaries from all over the United States send books and manuscripts to James Twomey`s Book Restoration & Conservation Co.
(7735 Fifth Ave., Kenosha, Wis. 53143; 800-228-1943) for cleaning, rebinding and other restoration. But Twomey also will refurbish that special book you treasured as a child. ”I only work on valuable books, but some books have value at auction and other books have value in the heart,” says Twomey, a professional associate of the American Institute for Conservation who also restores maps and prints. For most books printed between 1880 and 1950, prices start around $60 for cleaning and treating pages with an acid-neutralizing spray; binding restoration costs another $60-$100. Restoration costs for small maps start at $25; fees for restoring prints and posters begin around $50.
C
CLOCKS:
From tiny watches set in rings to towering grandfather clocks, St. James House, (4742 W. Peterson Ave., 312-267-0400) can clean-and repair-your clock. Owner Ted Kamish says repairs can range from the mechanical to the aesthetic, so care of the cases is also offered. Craftsmen carry certification from the British Horological Institute, which means they`ve apprenticed in clock repair.
CRYSTAL
Crystal Cave (1141 Central Ave., Wilmette, 708-251-1160). Sales are Josef Puehringer`s primary concern, but the Austrian craftsman also engraves, repairs and cuts glass. The repairman of choice (”I`ll tell you off-the-record”) for several crystal merchants in the Loop, Puehringer says he has fixed everything from ”beer bottles to the finest crystal,” except for filigree, which is too fragile to repair, he says. Repair minimum is $15. Nicked or chipped crystal costs about $10 per stem.
Mary Lou Gates is also a master at this exacting work and numerous antique stores procure her services. Although she works from her home, she does a regular stint at the Antique Showcase at Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie.
D
DISHES:
David Zagorski Restorations (304 S. Halsted St., 312-855-1880) works mainly on antique china, art pottery and antique china sculptures for dealers and galleries, but accommodates private collectors. Minimum fee: $50.
Broken Art Porcelain Restoration, (1841 W. Chicago Ave., 312-226-8200). Husband-and-wife team Michelle and Bill Marhoefer specialize in restoring porcelain and ceramics, but also work on ivory, stone, wood and metal. Michelle, who studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago, does the glazing, while Bill, who has a master`s degree in sculpture from the Art Institute, does the sculpture part of the repair. Minimum charge, $30 an hour. E
EMBELLISHMENTS
Bland walls are boring especially in your most prized possession, your home. Those who turn the blah into beautiful: Rita Miller and Bill Wagenarr, a husband and wife team whose forte is murals painted instudio on canvas which then are applied to walls by a fine paperhanger. The couple does complete room murals or smaller murals on panels. Prices begin at $2500 for a window-size trompe l`oeil canvas. Miller Wagenaar Studios, (312-276-5300). Decorative painter David Beemer (312-6648426), embellishes the occasional piece of furniture as well as rooms. Working in chicago, New YOrk and Florida, his prices begin at $500 a room.
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FINE FURNITURE:
Bob McGowan (226 W. Superior St., 312-664-6745) has a clientele which includes the city`s top galleries and prominent collectors. Considered by other conservators to be the best for 17th and 18th Century furniture. Caledonian (562 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, 708-446-6566) is an eight-person workshop within a prominent 50-year-old antique gallery that imports and sells English furniture, but also accepts outside work. Specializes in English furniture, as well as frames, mirrors and gilding restoration.
Ralph Kennedy Furniture & Decorative Arts Conservation (409 N. Main St., Mt. Carroll, Ill., 815-244-9789). In business for 30 years, Ralph Kennedy has the most current high-tech equipment and stays abreast of latest developments. Credits include a large grouping of 16th, 17th and 18th Century pieces for the Art Institute`s European Decorative Arts Section. Will pick up and deliver all over the Midwest. Rate: $30 an hour.
H. Lanny Green (16 W. 710 Red Oak St., Bensonville, 708-766-9063.) has a clientele which includes the Chicago Blackhawks (he`s done the antiques for their boardroom), Sara Lee, and other prominent Chicago collectors. Green specializes in repair of missing wood inlays, marquetry and parquetry, chinoiserie, tortoise shell and French polishing.
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GLASS:
Tiffany glass gets the healing touch at Drehobl Bros. Art Glass Co. (2847 N. Lincoln Ave., 312-281-2022), which specializes in leaded or copper foil windows, as well as bent-glass panels for lamps or furniture.
Italo G. Botti of Botti Studio of Architectural Arts Inc., (919 Grove St., Evanston; 708-869-5933) comes from a family of glass workers stretching back to Florence, Italy more than two centuries ago. Specialists in stained and antique glass, Botti`s staff restored the Louis Sullivan windows at Roosevelt University.
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HEARTH:
The Brass Hearth, (1623 N. Halsted; 312-642-1434) will fix your fireplace tools and replace screens and other accessories. ”We`ll try our best to match tools to the ones you already have, but we also have a large selection if you need to replace.”
I
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IRONWORK:
When experts need exquisite ironwork, they call Chicago`s Finest, 3319 Washington St., Lansing, Ill. (708-895-4484). ”They are able to translate the most amazing designs into reality, whether its a radiator cover or a winding staircase,” said one of the city`s busiest rehab architects. Not only will they fabricate your own design, but they will match and fix pieces that are missing from existing ironwork as well.
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JEWELRY:
Seeing that beautiful-but broken-locket is a daily irritant. When you finally decide to do something about it, head over to Santiago Ortega (5 N. Wabash Ave., 312-236-1551), who can fix pieces that others have just sentenced to jewelry heaven. Others swear by the Costume Jewelry House (55 E. Washington St., 312-782-7810) and Originals (1020 Davis St., Evanston, 708-328-4040), which is noted for its bead re-stringing. Lavinia Tackbary, owner of Eye on Design, (35 S. Washington St., 708-986-5228), is a major source for authentic beads and other necklace parts. She specializes in restoring ethnographic jewelry, as well.
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KITCHEN CABINETS:
John Jorgensen, owner of Color Center Inc. (470 Wise Rd., Schaumburg, 708-397-3500) estimates there are at least 25,000 St. Charles steel kitchens in downtown Chicago residences alone. While he says a new kitchen of that type runs about $70,000, his firm can refurbish the same size kitchen for about $2,500. Five years ago, his company added wood and laminate finishes to its servics ranging from a light, pickled shade to a medium oak hue. Laminated fronts also are offered. The 17-year-old firm offers free estimates, often over the phone if customers provide the number of cabinets and size of the kitchen.
L
LAMPS:
Need a lamp rewired or a shade or finial replaced? Or maybe you have an antique vase or candlestick you want made into a lamp. The Shadery, a lampshade shop in the Bannockburn Green shopping mall in Bannockburn
(708-940-7111), is a favorite among area decorators-they not only repair lamps, but can convert almost anything into a lamp. Prices start at $35 for service; parts are extra.
Another decorators` favorite is the Lamp Shader, with stores in LaGrange and Glenview. Both Lamp Shader stores stock thousands of shades and hundreds of finials and do repairs and custom work. Prices start at $9.50 for labor, with parts extra; expect to pay $85-$125, plus shade cost, to have a vase converted into a lamp. Stores are at 26 E. Burlington in LaGrange
(708-352-6343); and 1710 MacLean Ct. in Glenview (708-998-1220).
LACE:
”They are the last bastian of Old World laundries,” says Richard Scro, president of Shaxted about Linens, Ltd. (240 N. Milwaukee St., Milwaukee;
800-637-6334.) Antique Anichini lace linens come here for cleaning as do Martha Stewart`s dirty damask tablecloths. Liz Barbatelli heads the eight-person staff which draws raves from aficionados for renewing the look of aged and stained fabrics. Barbatelli accepts only those fabrics which can be laundered and prices vary according to what has to be done. Prices begin at $52 to clean a three-yard plain damask tablecloth. Cleaning and folding napkins is extra and begins at $3.25 each. Finishing is done to specification, but there is an additional charge for a roller to avoid creases. Restoration services, at $28 an hour, are also available. Most orders are done in two weeks, but linens for the holidays must sent before Dec. 7. Orders are returned by United Parcel Service and are insured. Barbatelli answers inquiries 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
LEATHER
Though many believe leather torn is leather trashed, Total Leather (6108 1/2 W. Irving Park Rd., 312-685-2162) knows otherwise. Stains also are not beyond the realm of repair, especially if they`re oil-based. And slits in leather, whether all the way through or just flesh wounds, can be cured through a process of filling, sanding and staining.
LINENS:
”They are the last bastion of Old World laundries,” says Richard Scro, president of Shaxted about Linens Limited (240 N. Milwaukee St., Milwaukee;
1-800-637-6334.) Antique Anichini lace linens come here for cleaning as do Martha Stewart`s dirty damask tablecloths. Liz Barbatelli heads the eight-person staff which draws raves from aficionados for renewing the look of aged and stained fabrics. Barbatelli accepts only those fabrics which can be laundered and prices vary according to what has to be done. Prices begin at $37 to clean a three-yard plain damask tablecloth. Cleaning and folding napkins is extra and begins at $3.25 each. Finishing is done to specification, but there is an additional charge for a roller to avoid creases. Restoration services, at $28 an hour, are also available. Most orders are done in two weeks, but linens for the holidays must sent before Dec. 7. Orders are returned by United Parcel Service and are insured. Barbatelli answers inquiries 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.