09/03/2026
I take this calling seriously.
Preservation is always the goal. These objects have survived generations, and whenever possible, I want to honor that history by keeping them intact, restoring what can be restored, and placing them with someone who will care for them next.
But preservation doesn’t always mean keeping an object whole at any cost. Sometimes the damage is too extensive. Sometimes restoration would cost far more than the piece could ever support. And sometimes saving what can be saved is the most respectful option left.
This enormous 1890 Finnish Bible came to me with its binding failed, its spine gone, and its extraordinary Gustave Dore engravings at risk of being lost along with it. Taking it apart was not a decision I made lightly.
But I would rather see these engravings preserved, framed, studied, displayed and appreciated for another hundred years than watch the entire book continue to deteriorate on a shelf.
Dealing in antiques means I get to be a temporary steward of things that existed long before me and, hopefully, will exist long after me. Sometimes that stewardship requires making the hard call.
