News and Announcements- Quarto posts links to new articles about conservation, and places company announcements here.

Click here to read the March 2007 Smithsonian Magazine article about the Archimedes Palimpsest.

Click here to go to the Archimedes Palimpsest website.

Click here to see an hour-long webcast from Stanford about how the text is being revealed from the Archimedes Palimpsest.

What customers have to say about our work

Janice Ellis’ flexible approach and creative solutions produce excellent results" Anne Ruta, Registrar, Daughters of the American Revolution Museum

Quarto has successfully completed many short and long-term contracts with numerous museums and US government agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution, for whom we have provided treatment and exhibition support for many years, the Library of Congress, the US Treasury Department, and the National Park Service. Our private clients receive as much attention to detail as the museums do, but are sometimes surprised at the amount of time it takes to complete a museum-quality treatment. They later say it's worth the wait to have the work done so well.

Clients - A Step-by-Step Introduction to Working Together

Quarto Conservation serves both private and institutional clients. To see a partial list of our institutional clients, click on the link to the left.

APPOINTMENT - Set up an appointment with Quarto by calling them at (301) 585-2521. The address and directions will be provided when an appointment is made.

ARTIFACT VALUE and INSURANCE - It is strongly advised that the client arrive at the consultation knowing the market value of their artifact. The purpose is twofold. First, it makes economic sense to invest in conservation treatment only up to the market value of the artifact. To invest more in the repair of an object than it is worth is unwise, except if the artifact has significant sentimental value. Knowing the artifact's market value with help to make informed treatment decisions. Second, Quarto needs to establish the insurance value of items it is holding. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CLIENT MUST MAINTAIN PRIMARY INSURANCE ON THEIR ARTIFACT AND QUARTO MAINTAINS SECONDARY INSURANCE FOR IT. In this way, the client avoids the extra expense of Quarto charging back for an insurance rider for each client's artifact. (Quarto has never experienced a loss of any type. Please refer to the "About Us" page to see a facilities report.)

CONSULTATION - When the client arrives for their appointment, a gratis half-hour consultation is provided to discuss treatment options. Consultations which require more time will be billed at the studio's hourly rate of $120./hour (2008). After the consultation, Quarto staff writes an itemized list style treatment proposal for a flat fee of $75/per item. For museums, who require fully documented written treatment proposals, fees are based upon time required, generally about one and a half hours per artifact. If the client decides to proceed with treatment, these fees are incorporated into the treatment cost.

Telephone consultations are not possible.

Occasionally, artifacts with complex conservation treatment needs will need to be tested before a treatment protocol can be found. In this case, the client will be asked to leave the artifact at Quarto's studio. After testing, a Treatment Proposal and a Contract will be sent to the client via e-mail, mail or FAX.

LIABILITY - Liability insurance in the art conservation field does not exist. This is because there are very few conservators in private practice, and because conservators often work on extraordinarily valuable items, sometimes in the tens of millions of dollars. The profession cannot afford to hold liability insurance for the artifacts we treat. QUARTO'S CONTRACT INCLUDES A WAIVER OF LIABLITY which clients must initial before treatment will begin.

TREATMENT CONTRACT SIGNED - Once the client and Quarto have discussed treatment options and come to a mutual understanding of the likely treatment outcome and fees, a contract is signed by both the client and Quarto. The client is provided with a copy of the signed contract.

DEPOSIT RECEIVED - A deposit of one half of the estimated treatment costs of the proposed treatment is due upon signing the contract.

TREATMENT BEGINS - Treatments are undertaken in the order in which they are received, depending upon other commitments the studio may have at the time. Museum exhibition work has the highest priority and sometimes jumps to the head of the cue. Special "rush" work is accommodated whenever possible. It is not unusual for treatments to take six months from the time the contract is signed to completion.

TREATMENT IS COMPLETED - When work is completed, Quarto will call to establish an appointment for the client to pick up their property. Clients who do not respond to telephone notification will be notified in writing. Storage fees of $100./month are incurred beginning one month after the first notification of work completion. Quarto can make arrangements to ship property if clients are unable to retrieve it. Shipment will be made after payment in full is received. If clients do not pick up or arrange for shipment within one year, Quarto will assume ownership. The client will still be charged in full for contracted treatment and storage fees.

Artifacts are returned when payment is made in full. Written treatment documentation printed on acid-free paper is included. Photographic documentation is provided upon request, and is burned to a CD-ROM.

PAYMENT - Quarto accepts payment via check, credit card and government direct deposit.