SculpturePreservation.com




Sculpture Preservation is owned and managed by Ted Monnich, an objects conservator with over thirty year's experience in the field of conservation. Monnich is assisted by conservation technician Carla S. Monnich, Ted's spouse, who has worked in the conservation field since 1994. Ted Monnich began his career in 1981 in the service of his mentor Kenneth J. Lynch, Sr. of Kenneth Lynch and Sons, Wilton, Connecticut. Kenneth Lynch took Monnich under his wing and arranged internships for his protégé in France, under Mssr. Noel Paulet, and under Edward Smith at the Royal Armouries, then located in the Tower of London. These internships united Monnich's love of history with his love of metallurgy and metalworking. As has been said, "being from Pittsburgh, Monnich has iron in his blood." Monnich came to specialize in the conservation and restoration of historic arms, armor and metalwork. But working in a museum of arms and armor, as is the Royal Armouries, and later the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Higgins Armory Museum, exposed Monnich to far more than metal artifacts. Gunstocks and polearm staves were of wood, dress swords included porcelain grips. Textiles and leather were integral components of militaria collections, especially Asian arms and armor. So, Monnich's conservation experience was broadened through the practical experiences of preserving these fine collections.

After returning from his work at the Royal Armouries Monnich served briefly at the National Ornamental Metal Museum, in Memphis, Tennessee, where he guest-curated the exhibition "Renaissance Hardwear: The Art and Technology of Arms and Armor." All the while Monnich continued his work in conservation for public and private collections. In 1988 Monnich was invited to join the staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Arms and Armor as Assistant Conservator. This was an extraordinary time to work at the Met as the Arms and Armor galleries were undergoing their first renovation in 60 years, the entire collection was removed to storage for examination, research and conservation treatment. With conservator Robert Carroll, Monnich treated hundreds of the collection's artifacts, constructed new mounting and display systems, and worked closely with the curatorial and design staffs in completing the over $10 million renovation project in the Autumn of 1991.

Private Practice

1999 - present Conservation of Outdoor Sculpture, Charleston Department of Parks, Charleston, SC.

1999 - present Conservation of Outdoor Sculpture, North Carolina Arts Council.

1998 - present Conservation of Sculpture and Objects, Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

1996 - present Conservator of Sculpture, JFK Special Forces Museum, Fort Bragg, NC.

1995 - present Conservation of Sculpture, Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC.

1994 - present Conservation of Objects and Sculpture, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC

1989 - 1993 Conservator on contract, Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester, MA.

1996 - 2000 Advisor to the National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property

1996 - 2000 Survey Conservator for Heritage Preservation's SOS! Random Sample Survey assessments

1994 - 1999 Field Reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services Conservation Project Support Grants


Professional Experience


1991 - 2002 Chief Conservator, South Carolina State Museum

1988 - 1991 Conservator, Department of Arms and Armor, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.


Professional Affiliations

Professional Associate American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works

Founding Member Southeast Regional Conservation Association

Professional Member South Carolina Federation of Museums


Select Symposia and Workshops Presented

2002 Introduction to Integrated Pest Management, South Carolina Federation of Museums

1999 Disaster Response for Museums, South East Museums Conference

1997 Conservation of Outdoor and Indoor Sculpture and Monuments, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training

1996 Outdoor Sculpture Conservation, North Carolina Museums Council

1994 Conserving Historic Furniture, South Carolina Federation of Museums

1993 Collections Management, Care and Conservation, American Association of State and Local History Museums

1992 Light Levels in Exhibit Design, South East Museums Conference


Education

1985 - 1987 Memphis State University

1980 - 1983 University of North Carolina, Charlotte

1984 Conservation Internship, Royal Armouries, Tower of London, London, England

1982 - 1985 Apprenticeship in conservation of metals and sculpture with Kenneth Lynch, Sr., Wilton, Ct.

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