The Vespiary Book Binding & Book Conservation

Our local weekly just published a nice article on local luthier, George Weisel. I’ve been scouring the CoOL and AIC databases for Montanan conservators of various kinds and have come up short, so it was nice to see that Missoula is home to not just one but three talented strnged instrument restorers, John Joyner and Peter Barberio being the other two. John is one of the co-founders of the Missoula Folklore Society and Peter has a little shop right on our main drag, Higgins Ave.(be sure to click the tab for services on his main page - it’ll take you to some neat restoration photos).

One other conservator I did find in the area is wooden artifact specialist, John Kjelland. He’s been in the business for over 28 years and the objects in his treatment gallery are impressive. I can only imagine what his workshop must look like! The Missoulian ran an article about him that’s worth a read.

No website for this one, but another local (ish) reference is to Teresa A. Knutson of Rocky Mountain Textile Conservation. All my references say she works out of Kalispell, but beyond that, not so sure. She can be reached at 406-756-1388, or tknutson@aboutmontana.net.

I was hoping to include one more, Japanese doll expert, Alan Pate, but sadly it seems he has forsaken the Rockies in favor of the Southwest.