For over 25 years Gregg Perry offered high style Chippendale and Queen Anne Replica to a  plethora of clients consisting of both furniture dealers and private individuals throughout the United States.  Mr. Perry achieved notable attention in 1997 when he was featured in Colonial Homes magazine and interest in his line extended itself well into 2002.  However the last 5 years he has seen his profession narrow considerably with so many dealers closing their doors and less and less wood mills and suppliers surviving the post 90's economy. Having taken reproductions as far as he thought possible, Mr. Perry decided to expand his expertise to include restoration with the intent to repair and conserve those original masterpieces that had been his inspiration in the 80's.

This decision would require him to close his studio and seek apprenticeships with reputable restorers. These experiences left him astonished by the methods employed in this  "Restoration Shop". These procedures would be more aptly termed "Make-UP Jobs" rather than anything resembling restoration:  Unorthodox joinery, improper glues and gluing, as well as untraditional finishes were applied to fine period pieces.  Quickly Mr. Perry realized that he would not be able to achieve what he sought.  Training in Authentic - Non Invasive Traditional - Restoration methods.

Exasperated, he took the drastic measure to apply for admittance at the prestigious Ecole Boulle* located in Paris, France.  After being accepted he enrolled in the Restoration course providing him with the knowledge he sought and it is a journey that continues today with his relationships among the master artisans he encountered along the streets of the Faubourg St. Antoine, once the epicenter of furniture making.

Today Mr. Perry is the only American to have completed the one-year mark in the "Atelier de Restauration".

RESTAURATION SERVICES


Mr. Perry's range of services are provided by a selected group of artisans who work with and/under his closest supervision. Our emphasis on restauration includes period furniture and wooden artifacts, lacquered and gilded surfaces.
Services include:

  1. Traditional marquetry and Boulle  restauration  using the chavalet
  2. French Polishing (Tampon)
  3. Gilding, restauration including water, oil, reparue and patinazation
  4. Lathe turning copies and restauration
  5. Bronzier services, gold dore’ (mercury gilding), restauration, replacement and casting of bronze mounts
  6. Sculpting
  7. Leather top replacement
  8.  Clock mechanism repair, including brass, silver and porcelain dials
  9. Lacquer restauration

 

FRENCH POLISHING

Gregg Perry, trained in France, uses ancient  procedures that allow the film-finish to retain its character and value. Traditionally, the surface does not require any layer or patina removal. Only traditional film and coloring materials are used. This assures that over a period of time the repairs will not ghost-through. In addition, surface waxing; brass cleaning and gilt metal mount polishing services are available.

 

LACQUER  RESTAURATION

The most intricate and delicate of restauration, chinosierie, japanning & lacquer restauaration are performed by French artisans with combined decades of experience.  They incorporate century old techniques using traditional materials of the East and West. They stabilize, match and consolidate surfaces.

-          Reading and replication of a textured surface

-          Suring up of unstable substrates and consolidation of flaking surfaces

-          Revising effects of climate, environment and metal damage

 

MARQUETRY RESTAURATION

Gregg Perry obtained extensive training from the top 2 marquetrs in France. This included an intense specialization on Boulle period pieces. In his Topton atelier he uses traditional methods of cutting marquetry, inlays, bone, brass, pewter, ivory & other precious materials using a 175 year old chavalet

Materials used for restauration  are of period age:

-          Traditional European glues are used

-          Traditional sand-shading procedures are incorporated

-          Custom designs for new marquetry  are available

-          Custom cutting  of 18th C. lumber into veneer available

 

GILDING

Gilding is an art form that only a few have mastered in the US. There are unfortunately, more fraudulent gilders than true experts, imposing abusive practices and hiding repairs that will later surface on period pieces. With a less informed public the difference is seldom detected until it is too late.

Mr. Perry spent 7 months studying English and French frames and executing traditional gilding, which is a fading art form. He practiced with one of Paris’ gifted gilders in the Faubourg  St. Antione district . This intense practice provided him the opportunity to absorb French gilding in its entirety.

            - frame strengthening , use of rabbit glues and calcium carbonate, reparue, burnishing clays, the science of metal foil and& its application, burnishing and most importantly patinization.

His knowledge enables him to decipher minute intricacies which delineate either English or Louis IV,V or VI styles &/or makers

 

BRONZIER SERVICE

Part of Mr. Perry’s team are 2 of Paris’ top artisans who combine over 50 years in this discipline working for private clients in the Louvre and Versailles. Our services include the following:

-          Bronze mount replacement

-          Bronze mount casting

-          Gravure (engraving)

-          Casting of all and any American & European hardware

-          Mercury gilding

-          Polishing

-          Repair of existing hardware  

 

CLOCK MOVEMENT RESTAURATION

Gregg Perry has received training at the British Horological Institute in Newark, England and has attended the NAWCC year long clock repair program in Columbia, PA  He combines this educational experience with his long time associate, who is a master clock maker of 40 years. Together they offer total restauration of weight driven and spring-wound period movements from England, France and America. Also available is a complete brass and silver dial restauration program. A finder’s service is available for clients seeking specific clocks. Delivery, installation and moving of tall clocks sold by Gregg Perry and/or outside clients is available.

 

LEATHER TOP REPLACEMENT

After receiving an intensive training program from Paris’ foremost leather artisan in the Faubourg, Gregg Perry offers replacement leathers and gilded embossing on writing surfaces. Choice of leather and standard Roulette designs are available. Custom roulettes, corner stamps and motifs are available.

  

SCULPTING  (CARVING) RESTAURATION

Gregg Perry’s studio has the capability of reproducing  and/or copying missing, deteriorated or newly carved components, from a Newport shell to Ball& Claw feet to the Cartouche on a Louis IV frame. Gregg Perry, who has been carving for over 20 years, received the rare opportunity while studying in Paris to apprentice with the world renowned sculptuer, Blanchard. Perry teams up with 3 other European sculptures if the magnitude of the job requires.