This restoration came from antique collectors. It was challenging to restore these traction engine lamps to the original oil lamps from their electrical adaptation.

I strongly advise collectors never to de-value antique lamps by changing how they create light. It destroys the historic integrity of a piece, and like museums, I’m committed to conservation.

The reflectors, unfortunately, had been drilled to allow wires to enter the oil pots, so I had to seal and re-silver the patches by applying a silver-plating solution to the reflectors to repair much of the surface.

This pewter jewelry box, with its intricate designs, was missing a foot and came in for foot replacement surgery.

Pewter is a very tricky material that melts easily and quickly. Too much heat is often a problem. Even wax candles that drip onto a pewter candlestick holder will destroy the holder.

Unfortunately, many candlesticks have found their way to me, melted by the wax of a candle.

Silver-soldering would not have worked on this project because of the heat. Luckily, glue worked to affix the leg.