Fine Art Stewardship

Mercury seems surprised about ear wax removal. 👂 😬 👂 😬 👂 #SparkandAnvil #Conservation #bronze #bronzesculpture #fineartstewardship #timkenmuseum #quarterlycleaning (at Timken Museum of Art) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpiW_QXpa0x/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A little Balboa Park magic... (at Balboa Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co1WtkWudCI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Speaking of simple. Doesn't get much more basic than clips. But they are rather clean and lovely nonetheless. 🛠️ 🔩 🛠️ 🔩 🛠️ #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #sculpture #simpleclips #brass (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoEVGJqr9iq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Don't get weird with your mount templates they said. Yet. (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cms8-WMucdt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Had a wonderful time last week up at The Santa Barbara Museum of Art mountmaking. Beautiful ancient Greek objects from their collection. This is the beginning of a larger project. Also love anything that allows for a bit of faux finishing. ⚱️ PAINTER OF VILLA GIULIA 43969, Faliscan, active 4th century BCE, Red-figure stamnos (wine vessel), ca. 370 BCE. Ceramic. 13 3/4 × 12 5/8 in. (34.9 × 32.1 cm). SBMA, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William P. Nelson, 1945.11.2.  🗿 Greek, possibly Rhodian, Head of Demeter, 2nd half of 6th century BCE. Terracotta. 8 × 5 × 4 in. (20.3 × 12.7 × 10.2 cm). SBMA, Gift of Robert M. Light and Donald Outerbridge, 1998.67.4.  ⚱️ 🗿 ⚱️ 🗿 ⚱️ #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #sculpture #Greek #stamnos #terracotta #sbma (at Santa Barbara Museum of Art) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmewq1cvFRS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

So amazing to see the framework of this 1914 gem! She's getting a much needed bit of attention. Can't wait to see it finished. 😍 🌿 😍 🌿 😍 #SparkandAnvil #Conservation #botanicalbuilding #panamacaliforniaexposition #balboapark (at Botanical Building) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjBJPpGpkaV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hand-threading 3/8" stainless steel is a grueling task. Especially when you need 5" of thread and are using a tap and die set made in China. It keeps the gun show at maximum capacity though...💪🏼🤔 #herculean (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgFKMiBl9cL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Doing a bit of marble coring today on this neoclassical piece... (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgDjJcErm4s/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Some days working in the shop is the only thing I want to do. A little fancy pants music and some strong coffee really tie the room together. ☕ 💪🏼 ☕ 💪🏼 ☕ #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #sculpture #Conservation #restoration #artrestoration #artconservation #brass #marble #neoclassical #neoclassicalsculpture (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbQjR9zPQxJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

Stopped by to visit an old friend. Rameses II is on display over at The San Diego Museum of Art. One of the only Egyptian pieces in their collection. This used to be partially buried in a hefty case that covered up the cartouche. A decades old display method that didn't sit well with me. We carefully added a receiving sleeve of stainless steel hollow tube which involved coring the granite. It was quite the nail biting moment. Perhaps the biggest in my career. But now he hovers ever so slightly off the deck. And you can finally read his name. It's mind-boggling to think that after 4000+ years, the next person to carve away at this piece was this fuzzy dude. 🤯 🇪🇬 ⚒️ 🇪🇬 ⚒️ 🇪🇬 #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #sculpture #Conservation #restoration #artrestoration #artconservation #rameses #ramesesii (at San Diego Museum of Art) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca5AUf6pBYu/?utm_medium=tumblr

Practicing the secret ancient art of fabric wrapping with no staples or folds. As passed down from the wise David LaTouche of Benchmark, I believe. A real game changer when it comes to fabric wrapped inserts for cases. So fresh. So clean clean. 🧘🏻‍♂️ 🧙🏻‍♂️ 🧘🏻‍♂️ 🧙🏻‍♂️ 🧘🏻‍♂️ #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #sculpture #fabricwrapping #caseinsert #ancientarts #secret (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca07xc7rf-D/?utm_medium=tumblr

A little flashback from mount fabrication of THE most beautiful triptych I've ever seen. By Pieter Claeissens 1564. If memory serves, the central panel was separated from the wing panels for hundreds of years and finally reunited for the first time in this photo. The detail is breathtakingly beautiful. Amazing. #SparkandAnvil #museumwork #mountmaking #artconservation #claeissens #altarpiece #triptych (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZwwifHFusB/?utm_medium=tumblr

Here's a few before and afters from the video below. In case you're in a tremendous hurry and have no time to watch a 3 minute time lapse. See how thoughtful I can be? ⚒️ 😊 ⚒️ 😊 ⚒️ #SparkandAnvil #bronze #sculpture #sculpturecleaning #waxing #quarterlycleaning #artconservation #artconservationservices #robertholmessculpture #itzikbenshalom #itzikbenshalomsculpture #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXoy6MUveww/?utm_medium=tumblr

I had an amazing time fabricating display mounts at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County last week. Thanks for hosting @polymathematical.scott! One ancient prehistoric sea turtle head and series of the evolution of the walrus. The first being a modern walrus and the next two being millions and millions of years old. Any experts out there have any names for these specimens? For more information about the evolution of the walrus, give this a viewing... 🤘 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKDGYGV2LK8 🤘 😬 🤘 😬 🤘 #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museummount #museumdisplay #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #walrus #prehistoric #fossil #naturalhistorymuseumlosangeles #tusk #ancientbeasts (at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWrFcY5PEc9/?utm_medium=tumblr

Some mid-morning tool porn for you. I'm redoing my entire shop which is something I've not had time to do for over a year. Well, I made time. A nice piece of cedar, some custom mounts for mountmaking tools (oh the irony), and a lovely vinyl background for each tool. That little M12 driver with all the attachments is my new favorite thing. Spark&Anvil is officially a Milwaukee fan. 😍 ⚒️ 😍 ⚒️ 😍 #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #toolporn #milwaukeetools #knolling #theartofknolling #toolorganization (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWq3nW8vO30/?utm_medium=tumblr

Somehow this mount for a walrus skull has magically transformed into the bestest giant slug friend I ever had. That or a retainer for a giant with bad teeth. Either way. 😬 🐌 😬 🐌 😬 #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #walrus #giantslug #naturalhistorymuseum (at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWcLG2jl3Ih/?utm_medium=tumblr

What an amazing environment to be working in. There's the coolest and quirkiest stuff floating around the hallways at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Right up my alley. 🐵 👌 🐵 👌 🐵 #SparkandAnvil #mountmaking #mountmaker #museumwork #museumlife #arthandler #arthandlerlife #preparator #orangutans #greatape #naturalhistorymuseum (at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWbIE4EpE7-/?utm_medium=tumblr