CERAMIC
RESTORATION PROCESS
Sergio Bustamante
Equilibrist Leopard
This six-foot Equilibrist Leopard was damaged during a client's move, and the tail and legs were destroyed. Jeff’s restoration process from start to finish for the Leopard exemplifies his precise, detailed work with beautiful results.
For full-size image, please click on each picture.
1
Before
The legs and tail were broken off in several pieces, and they needed to be rebuilt and restored.
2
Before
The painting on this piece was also in poor condition. It needed reworking.
3
During
The tail area needed steel rods inserted to hold the weight of the restored tail.
4
During
The tail was reattached, and the open area needed to be rebuilt from the inside out.
5
During
It was then patched and sanded several times to restore the tail to its original smoothness.
6
During
The legs were rebuilt and restored from the inside out too. They were patched and sanded several times for a completely smooth surface.
7
After
At the client’s request, this Sergio Bustamante sculpture was restored with a more vibrant and detailed look. It was then varnished to its original satin finish.
8
After
The Leopard’s balance ball was finished with 24-karat gold leaf.
9
After
The completely restored and repainted Leopard shows Jeff’s beautiful results!