Icons are made of many different materials. These include varnish, paint, glue, gilding, plaster, canvas, wood and metals. Together they form a complex structure that is easily damaged if knocked...         Paintings can be damaged in many ways. The canvas might be torn or punctured, or may have split at the edges. The painting might have developed sagging canvas, bulges or dents...         Metal objects are also part of the world cultural heritage. The metals of antiquity (iron, tin, copper, lead, silver, and gold) are those which were recognized and intentionally used with consistent regularity...         Collections of objects housed in private ownership are normally referred to as 'archaeological' if they have been found buried in the ground or recovered from under water. They can be of any age, from Stone...                         People often mistakenly believe that conservation and restoration is much the same thing but this is not the case. Conservation denotes the maintenance and preservation of works of art, their history, artistic value and the technological information, also their protection from future damages and deterioration. This process may be very different depending on the technique of the artifact.   In the case of an oil painting it may involve anything from ensuring that the painting is property hung or framed, to the consolidation of loose or flaking paint. At the most fundamental level the atmospheric conditions in which the painting is kept must be controlled. Fluctuating or incorrect humidity can cause significant damage. Both wood and linen absorb moisture and expand, and as they dry out they contract,   which affects the adhesion of the paint to the support. This causes cracks and flaking and in severe cases the paint layer can be lost. It is particularly important to monitor the amount of light to which the painting is exposed. Ultra violet light is detrimental to most colors and will cause fading, yellowing and darkening of varnish layers, in some cases, within days. Restoration involves the repair or renovation of artworks   that have already sustained injury or decay. The aim is to return the piece as near to its original appearance as possible. Therefore, a large amount of research is carried out on the piece before we begin. Restoration regularly includes the removal of discolored old varnishes and overpaint. Damages caused by accident, fire, water or any other reason are regularly carried out by our staff at ACRS studio.