Textile Conservators and Curators
The Textile Conservation Workshop
While developing products I received expert guidance from Patsy Orlofsky—an esteemed Textile Conservator —and Phyllis Dillon—a Fashion Historian, Author, and Consulting Museum Curator.
Patsy Orlofsky is the founder and Executive Director of The Textile Conservation Workshop located in South Salem, New York. A scholar and lecturer, Mrs. Orlofsky is the author of Quilts in America, a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation, and a Kress Publications Committee liaison.
The Textile Conservation Workshop, a not-for-profit laboratory founded in 1978, is a conservation resource for museums, historic agencies, and private individuals. As an educational institution, the Workshop offers internships that provide novice as well as post-graduate training in the field of textile conservation.
www.textileconservationworkshop.org
J. Scheer & Co.
Jonathan Scheer is a highly regarded expert textile conservator whose company specializes in the conservation of bridal gowns, exhibition couture clothing and heirloom textiles.
Founded in 1988 with museum clients as its core constituency, the company began as a consulting firm with proven expertise in the area of conservation cleaning of historic textiles.
J. Scheer & Co. is the recommended preservationist for many renowned fashion designers, including Amsale, Angel Sanchez, Anne Barge, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Christos, Elie Saab, Elizabeth Fillmore, Junko Yoshioka, Kenneth Pool, Manuel Mota, Monique L'huillier, Oscar de la Renta, Peter Langer, Pronovias, and Reem Acra.
Mr. Scheer has studied conservation science and care of museum collections at the Smithsonian Institution's Conservation Analytical Laboratory, the Art Institute of Chicago, The Textile Conservation Laboratory at The Cathedral of Saint John The Divine in New York, and the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation.
He has contributed his expertise in conservation cleaning treatments to collections exhibited at, among many, the Musee des arts Decoratifs at the Louvre in Paris and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
www.jscheer.com
Furniture Experts
Christophe Pourny Studio
Christophe Pourny was born and raised in the Var region of Southern France. Growing up in his parents antique store in Fayence made the love of furniture and artisanal technique second nature to Christophe.
An apprenticeship at his Uncle’s shop on the Rue Jacob in Paris would give Christophe the cosmopolitan experience he needed to prepare him for New York. Pierre Madel was a legend and his loyal clientele spanned all the way from San Francisco to St. Tropez.
Fifteen years ago Christophe moved to New York and opened his restoration studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn. The studio specializes in French polish, period finishes, antique restoration, & custom furniture production.
The studio is proud to call some of the most talented interior designers in the industry clients. Christophe has also worked extensively on the restoration of City Hall, Gracie Mansion, & The Holy See Mission to The United Nations.
Christophe’s work has been featured in Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living, and he has been profiled on 1st dibs. He is also a featured guest on the Martha Stewart Show.
I met Christophe after buying his Furniture Tonic and Color Reviver both of which I use regularly at home. Christophe is adding to his product line and has products to care for leather furniture and shoes.
Susan Silver Antiques
Susan developed an early interest in antiques from her mother who was an interior designer in New York. But it was about twenty years ago she realized beautiful antiques made her heart race and discovered she had a passion for English and Continental antiques.
To indulge her passion, she put her zeal and stylist’s eye to work, opening a shop specializing in 18th and 19th century Georgian and Regency furniture and accessories.
Susan is still obsessed, always on the hunt for the next perfect object. She goes often to England and France, indulging herself in my own form of the royal progress. She spends a great deal of time and effort searching out her objects, but is extremely particular, driven to find the best quality items.
Beautiful antiques abound in the marketplace, but the items she buys must possess that little extra that elevates a piece from the very nice to the exceptional. The fine craftsmanship and the varied forms of English furniture keep drawing her in.
Susan gravitates to furniture and accessories for libraries and living rooms, including tables, desks, chairs, bookcases, mirrors and lighting fixtures. She also looks for cleverly designed and beautifully made military campaign furniture. Many of the pieces she sells can serve dual and triple purposes, since not many of us have batteries of servants to wait on our every whim.
You will find wonderful antiques in her shop in the village of Sheffield, Massachusetts, amid the beautiful Berkshire Hills.