Ad Astra
Conservation

About us

 

In Ad Astra Conservation we pour our passion for quality historical and design objects into our work, carefully restoring and conserving these objects for future generations. 

Ad Astra Conservation

 

Ad Astra Conservation was born from Ane Orue-Etxebarria and Anna Heinrichs' shared passion for fine antiques and design objects. After graduating as conservators from the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences they joined forces and skills in order to offer a comprehensive service for the conservation of historical objects.

 

Orue-Etxebarria conducted her first internship at the EMMA Museum of Modern Art and Design, where she mostly worked with objects from the Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation, and gained experience in collections care. Her second internship was conducted in the University of Applied Sciences of Cologne, Germany, where she worked with the collection of the German Plastics Museum and specialised in conservation of plastics and polymer-based materials.

 

Heinrichs conducted both her internships at The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she worked with gilded and veneered furniture from the museum's collection. She also studied and mastered several inlaying techniques, such as Boulle intarsia, and has specialised in Russian furniture from the 19th century.

Our approach to conservation

 

We aim to follow the ethical guidelines for conservation suggested by international museum organizations (ECCO and ICOM), and strive to understand the history and significance of the objects we work with, as well as the needs of the owner. Whenever possible, we favour minimal intervention and reversible techniques in order to cause the least possible harm to the original object. To that end we combine traditional and modern materials and techniques. 

  • Conservation and restoration of ceramics, plaster, metals, glass, stone and plastics 
  • Preventive conservation of museum collections comprising unstable materials
  • Analytical research methodology (i.a. FTIR, XRF, VIS-spectrometry)
  • Conservation and restoration of furniture and wooden objects including ivory, tortoise shell, horn and metals
  • Conservation and restauration of decorative surfaces such as paint, lacquer and gilding
  • Traditional and modern upholstery

Ane Orue-Etxebarria

Object Conservator, BA, AMK (2020)

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
 

Physicist, BSc (2003) and Electronic Engineer, MSc (2005)

EHU, University of the Basque Country

Anna Heinrichs

Furniture Conservator, BA, AMK (2020)

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

 

Upholsterer (2016)

Helsinki Vocational College (Stadin Ammattiopisto)

Our team