From ceramics to paintings, pricey oriental vases to snow globes, the Dolly Hospital to an 1800s Bible – Wrightway’s motto is ‘we don’t say no to anyone’ – which makes their work especially varied.
Wrightway Studio’s self-proclaimed ‘office boy’ Ross Stewart says the scope of ‘what to repair – what not to repair’ is infinite.
“You can’t put a price on sentimental value,” says Ross. “We get so many loved belongings here which people pay three to four times more than it’s worth to have it back in its original condition.”
And he says the main culprit is: “Cats, kids, cleaners and curtains. It’s so true,” he laughs.
I was suddenly aware of my bulky handbag and of my elbow jutting out to the side as I scribbled notes of the many historic pieces of art to be repaired and walked very cautiously.
In contrast, the mood of the ‘masters’ at work as they restore family heirlooms to their former glory is surprisingly calm considering the price tag attached – some fetching a whopping $50,000. The most expensive piece is a copy of Raphael’s The Three Graces.
Most of the paintings restored are fire damaged. Families will send the Mt Wellington company entire collections from as far a field as England, to be restored at a leisurely pace. “If something is worth fixing, it’s worth the time it takes.”
Sadly for those who don’t have much time left in their own lives, Ross says he often sees an influx of historic or valuable goods come through.
“If people know they’ve got eight months to live, they often get all their stuff fixed up so it can pass on in good knick.”
The oldest piece under restoration is a 2000-year-old Peruvian statue.
“He’s by far the oldest piece we have.” ‘He’s’ in a sad state, but Ross casually says, “we’ll get him right”.
I poked my head around to see a very happy lady clutching her damaged treasure as Ross assured her it would be as if ‘it’ never happened.
Watching Wrightway’s two masters at work is mesmerising. The master of ceramics Petar Bizumic, a former professor in arts and music, now sits contently and confidently behind a somewhat mutilated statue and says, “ceramics, no problem – easy”.
“It needs a new foot, a new arm, I make one – easy.”
The studio’s other master, Eason Chen, is the perfecting painting guru. And it’s not unusual for Eason and Petar to repair a repair job.
Ross points out a painting that an artist had tried to mend.
“You can see here she’s lost all the clouds, all the clouds are gone,” laughs Ross. “Eason will get them back.”
On that note – should you break, or damage something – avoid the Kiwi DIY attitude – take it straight to the professionals. “It’s cheaper if people just bring in their broken vase or whatever without having a go at it.”
Ross says most of their work comes in the form of insurance claims and compares the business to that of a mechanic’s insurance claim.
Asking Ross what has been the weirdest item he’s seen – Ross waltzed off and brought back a book with a 10-year-old photograph of Petar blissfully at work.
“It’s not weird but it caused a bit of a stir” and then, did I hear right? Did he say “da Vinci”?
Cool and calm Ross retold the hype when word leaked through the media linked to Leonardo da Vinci.
“We had people hanging around wanting to know what it was and have a look. It was an original frame of the same age of Leonardo da Vinci, but the painting wasn’t an original. Instead it was done by Leonardo da Vinci’s students.”
Flicking through the before and after photos, Petar had done an amazing job, restoring the structure into a magnificently presented prime piece of Renaissance art.
Ross recommends for those lucky enough to acquire expensive artefacts, maintenance work is always better for the customer than accidents – “accidents are costly”.
