Restoring a valuable collection in Paris through expertise across borders

In late 2023, Polygon became involved following a major fire at a private mansion in Paris. The approximately 3,000 m² property contained an exceptionally valuable collection of art, furniture and decorative objects.

Start / News and press releases / Restoring a valuable collection in Paris through expertise across borders

The fire originated in the technical room of a swimming pool on the second floor. Smoke, soot and heat had travelled through the building, affecting objects well beyond the area directly exposed to the fire. Polygon recognised that conventional contents handling and cleaning would not be sufficient and brought in its specialists from the Netherlands in document, art and antique restoration.

Protecting exceptional value and irreplaceable treasures

The project combined high financial and cultural value with demanding restoration requirements. Many of the affected objects were highly valuable and potentially irreplaceable. The collection included paintings, sculptures, furniture, chandeliers, porcelain, marble tables, mirrors, curtains and other specialist items. Incorrect cleaning or handling could cause permanent damage.

The project required coordination across countries, languages and multiple stakeholder groups. Around 700 individual objects required treatment documentation, creating a substantial administrative and traceability requirement alongside the restoration work itself.

The challenge was not simply to move and clean contents. It was to create a restoration solution that combined local customer coordination in France with specialist expertise that was not available locally.

Bringing the right specialists to Paris

Polygon mobilised six restorers from Polygon Netherlands, with complementary specialist skills, including expertise in wood, metal and lamps. The team travelled to Paris and spent two days assessing the collection and developing a restoration plan.

Jeffrey Happel, Manager at Polygon Netherlands:

Borders don’t have to be barriers. Paris is only about five hours from us – and in some countries, you can travel just as long without ever crossing a border. What matters is knowing where the expertise is within Polygon and bringing the right people together. It’s often much easier than you think.

Restoring objects in France and the Netherlands

The response combined on-site work in France with specialist treatment at Polygon’s facilities in the Netherlands.

The Dutch team remained on site for approximately four weeks to clean intricate wooden wall panels affected by soot. Four to five specialists worked in France during the week, supported by Polygon France colleagues.

Approximately seven truckloads of objects were transported from Paris to Polygon’s facilities in the Netherlands. New specialist requirements, including clock restoration and high-value carpet cleaning, prompted the onboarding of new subcontractors and an expansion of the specialist network. The collection was cleaned and restored over approximately eight months.

Working together across borders

The collaboration between the two countries was central to the success of the project.

Polygon France decontaminated part of the building and, together with Polygon International, managed local relationships and helped connect the Dutch specialists with French-speaking stakeholders.

French and Dutch operational colleagues worked together on site as one team, supporting handling, movement and access to equipment. Polygon Netherlands hosted the insured and loss adjusters on several occasions, giving them first-hand insight into storage arrangements and the restoration process as work progressed.

Combining expertise, coordination and strong relationships to deliver success

Clear communication and defined responsibilities helped overcome both language and geographic barriers. The project demonstrated that specialist expertise can be deployed across borders when local market knowledge and operational capabilities are combined effectively.

Laurent Buttazzoni, Head of International Sales at Polygon Group, who led Polygon France’s work on the project:

The combination of Polygon’s competencies — and, in particular, the unique depth of our combined expertise in art restoration and conservation, with no equivalent on the French market in one single company — together with the seamless coordination of the project and our relationships with the various stakeholders, enabled us to build expected trust throughout the assignment. The strong recognition expressed by the insurer, loss adjusters and client made this a true cross-border success!