The Restorer

He looks down at the piece for a moment, just a glance, more for recognition than review since he's already had plenty of opportunity to study it in detail. Still, even though he knows his time is limited, he can't help but reflect on the detail in the engraving, the precision that went into the carvings, and the care taken in the moldings and construction. He wants to point each part out, share the feast with an eager young novice, and let them experience his knowledge and excitement, but there's no-one else there.

But if there was anyone else watching they wouldn't have noticed even a split-second pause, because despite his age and his occasionally wandering thoughts, his limbs have been drilled by repetition of his work, and instinctively know what's coming next they reach out and lift the piece from the bench and drawing it towards him. His moment of reverie ended, he's once more fully engaged and his mind focused on the task. Though it’s not a fragile piece, as he lifts it, there's still a gentle timidity to his grip and the urge to shelter the piece from damage. Even through his latex gloves he can feel the chill of the metal, feel the wax droplets on the stem and splattered onto the texture of the wings, and the dirt encrusted into the engravings of the body. This is the the part that cannot be taught, the feel and sense of the piece that only comes from years of tending and repair of the pieces. Carefully shifting the piece around sensing its weight and seeking out the centre, first he settles for a firmer grip at the base of the carving, then moving gradually upwards until he's holding the candles sticks stem, but at each point searching for its centre of balance. 

Now he's ready to  begin the hoers d’oeuvre - the preparatory cleansing of the grime that settled on the piece and tarnished it metalwork. He's already lain out all his tools and implements in preparation, for there's no longer an eager young apprentice, anticipating his next move and ready to pass him the next required tool. He reaches for the pack of wipes, and drawing out the first sheet, applies it to the feet and base and with light circular swirls begins washing the metal and clearing off any impurities or deposits of dirt encrusting the carvings. Even though he knows that he's pressed for time, it takes a good quarter of an hour and twenty-three wipes to complete the work sufficiently, that was something the young boys always rushed in their eagerness to get to the scrapping, but he's a craftsman and knows the basics cannot be rushed.

Then with the cleansing done he moves onto the first course, from the case he selects a fine needle nose tweezers and micro pick with which to work around the engravings ensuring each is kept clear and well defined, seeking out any encrusted dirt or old deposits of wax buried in the petals or fallen onto the figurine below. When he's completed his first manual review, he switches on the large angle poise lamp and holds the piece below the light, and behind the magnifying lens to get an even clearer view and begins the inspection anew, and a further round of cleaning.

Then once he's satisfied with that this second inspection has revealed all the secret dirt and detritus buried in the pieces folds, he opens up a new pack of wipes and begins again to rub and clean each part of the piece.

Next, he takes the piece over to the next desk where he's left two large blue plastic tub and stopping in front of the first, dips the piece into a solution of warm salt water and aionic sulphates to cut through any remaining grease and grime, and to ensure each edge and is as clear and crisp as possible. He hold's it there for a minute, shifting his grip to make sure each part is immersed, then lifts the piece out of the tub and dips it into the chill clean water of the second tub and watches as the small pool of chemicals drift off. Then he takes the piece out and gives it a few gentle shakes, before laying he gently layes it down on the freshly lain out blotting paper ready to gobble up the first few droplets that fall from the piece and gather each fresh fall of droplets as he continues to turn the piece. Once satisfied with that he brings over a regular hair dryer, now on it's lowest setting and extends the drying process, once again working around the piece from every angle to ensure each surface is cleared of water.

Only when he's satisfied that the dryings done begin the final course, as he takes out the small atomiser and spray's a fine mist of oil over the piece, to help preserve it's surfaces and maintain it's shine. For the few seconds whilst it dries he step’s back to appreciate his work and once more his voice want to share with someone the satisfaction and joy that he feels in a job well done, his ears to listen to the murmered appreciation of his skills and his hands want to point to the work that’s been done to his aprentice. But there’s no-one else there, so silently he moves onto the next piece for time is short and one day soon even he won't be there to apprecite them, the only the pieces will remain.