Nowadays, it is not just laboratories that make

Lloyd Williams is an experienced antique art restorer, with over 35 years of knowledge in the field. He is able to make use of a wide range of techniques, materials, periods and styles. His work is comprised of European scientific instruments, Spanish Colonial tortoiseshell as well as silver boxes, Chinese furniture, French Empire firearms and also, Mogul cabinets and art once belonging to the 17th century. Some of the known techniques involved in this career are skills in working with stone and carving wood as well as iron. Oftentimes, the restoration can be taxing and difficult since majority of the tasks have to be done in intricate detail.

One such process used in art restoration that needs precision is the Damascene technique, wherein gold and silver are applied after a series of intersecting parallel knife-cut lines. These lines allow the gold or silver foil to be interlaced so that etching takes place. This process is used to apply decorative designs to antique objects. Good working distance is important, for example when creating cavities in the artifacts to add missing jewels, since a distance that is too far or near may affect the outcome of the product.

The Mantis magnification stereo microscope is a new and fully functional tool that can be used for art restoration. It produces superior stereo images with maximum control in adjusting the depth of field. It is able to illuminate the subject with 24 LEDs, which work to the advantage of the restorer. Since often times, antique items are heat-sensitive, there is a need for proper lighting of the subject without the added heat. When viewed through the Mantis, the image of the magnified object is the same as the actual distance from the real object. This was purposely done so that the eyes don't need to refocus every time they look away from the microscope, since restorers need to alternate their view from the magnified image to the actual object constantly. The mantis provides up to 34 mm field view of the subject as well as a working distance of up to 96mm with the X4 specialty objective lens. This microscope comes with a universal stand which can be bolted to any work surface. Its flexibility makes it easier to use and as such, is a practical choice for this job.

Williams expresses his satisfaction from using the Mantis for his restoration work. 'Without a doubt, Mantis has met with my expectations and has delivered an outstanding alternative to conventional magnification. The ergonomic advantages of the Mantis stereo viewer are unparalleled with any conventional microscope. I have been highly recommending it to other antique and art restorers in the field and will continue to do so.'