Her
long slender fingers move with precision. Gripping a tiny folded piece
of wet/dry sandpaper she works the hardened gesso and hide glue mixture
until it matches the existing molding bead. She is restoring a large
1874 triple mirror mantle piece. She is Margaret Eaton, owner of Margaret
S. Eaton Restorations.
She is tall and willowy. At
first glance one would expect her to be a high fashion runway model
or find her adorning the cover of International Vogue or Elle magazine,
but the depth of this woman's talent soon overshadows her physical
beauty. She is a perfect blend of artist and craftswoman.
A high wood paneled ceiling
watches over her busy work studio. A vast array of tools and materials
keeps your eye busy with discovery. There are trays and containers,
tins of oil size, squirrel hair gilders tips, sandpaper, scrapers,
even a kitchen flour sifter for sifting the gesso power. Additional
gilt pieces line the walls and fill the corners; gilt chairs, frames
and mirrors patiently await her hand. For ten years Margaret has been
breathing restorative life into the damaged existence of items such
as these.
Seven years
ago she and her husband Ben Eaton fulfilled a dream and purchased
a building in the 200 block of Warren Street in Hudson and began restoration.
The bright mustard columns and olive hues blend perfectly with the
red brick Federal facade. Restoring the interior is a gradual work
in progress. This is a very busy young couple, each managing their
own business and raising their daughter Lucy. As a child Margaret
not only made doll clothes, she made doll furniture as well. 
She
also dreamed of being an artist, but was uncertain what direction
to take. In high school she took an art class. One day when she was
late for a social studies class, the teacher asked her to stay after;
he wanted to know her reason for being late. She explained she had
stayed to clean up after art class, resulting in her tardiness. He
scolded her imploring she remember one point, "Art is not going to
pay the bills."
She studied
civil engineering and architecture in college. Following college she
found work apprenticing at Sotheby's Restoration. The day they showed
her the gilding room she was overwhelmed, realizing she had found
her childhood artistic dream, her destiny. She immersed herself in
the work, eventually honing her craft with Cynthia Moyer, of the Getty
Museum. In 1993 she ventured out on her own. When Margaret discusses
her work her bright, happy demeanor alters. She becomes very quiet
and serious. Her eyes fill with intensity allowing her vast confidence
and knowledge to seep out. It is clear she deeply loves her work.
Margaret is a perfectionist. When you pour your heart and soul into
your work you can be nothing less.
I asked what she uses to gild
and she produced a small booklet with tissue paper thin pages. Between
each page is a three and three eights inch square of gold leaf. Each
square is a solid piece of gold, pounded to a thickness of one 300,000th
of an inch thick. You must not touch it with your fingers; squirrel
hair gilders tips or a knife blade, slid like a spatula under a fried
egg, is how it must be handled. Working with gold leaf is precise
and extremely delicate work. The piece of gold leaf rumples, folds
over onto itself. Gently Margaret blows on it; it flutters with the
grace of a supple butterfly wing then flattens back to a perfect square.
Margaret has not forgotten the
words of her high school social studies teacher, except of course
he was wrong; art is paying the bills. That's what happens when you
dare to dream and have the courage and conviction to follow those
dreams. Margaret's work is fascinating and magical; it's the stuff
dreams are made of. Dreams are something both Ben and Margaret Eaton
embrace. In part two we'll open another window and take a look at
Ben's dream.
We'll talk next time, From The Road.
