Statue repair / Collector knowledge
A guide for careful collectors
How to care for a resin statue
A hand-painted resin statue is durable on a shelf and fragile everywhere else. Most damage comes from sunlight, heat, careless handling and moving house. Here is how to display, clean and protect one, from a sculptor who also repairs them.
1. Keep it out of direct sunlight
Ultraviolet light fades paint and can yellow resin and clear coats over time. Display the statue away from windows that get direct sun, and choose LED lighting for a display case rather than hot halogen bulbs. If a room is bright all day, a UV-filtering case or film is worth the cost.
2. Avoid heat and big temperature swings
Resin can soften and slowly lean under its own weight when it gets hot, especially thin parts such as swords, capes and hair. Keep statues away from heaters, radiators, fireplaces and the top of electronics, and never leave one in a parked car. Avoid moving a statue straight from a cold room into a hot one.
3. Dust it, do not wash it
Use a soft makeup brush or an air blower to remove dust. Do not use household cleaners, alcohol, solvents or wet cloths on painted surfaces: they can lift or cloud the paint and the protective coat. A closed display case cuts dusting to a minimum and protects against bumps.
4. Handle it by the base and the core
Lift a statue by its base or the solid center of the body, never by an arm, weapon, wing or effect part. Those parts are joined with pins and adhesive and are not designed to carry the weight of the piece. If parts come off for transport, store them separately and wrapped.
5. Secure the shelf
A shelf fall is the most common cause of serious damage. Place heavy statues on a level, sturdy shelf, keep them back from the edge, and use museum putty or gel under the base in homes where vibration, pets, children or earthquakes are a risk.
6. Keep the packaging for moving
Original foam and boxes are designed for that statue. Keep them, and pack the statue in them for any move. If the packaging is gone, wrap the statue in soft tissue, support every protruding part, and surround it with firm foam inside a strong box.
7. Can a resin statue go outside?
Some resin garden statues are made for the outdoors, with coatings chosen for weather. A hand-painted collector statue is not one of them. Rain, frost and sun will damage the paint and can weaken joints. Keep collector pieces indoors unless the statue was specifically designed and finished for outdoor display.
8. If it breaks
Stop, collect every fragment, including small chips, and do not glue it yourself with superglue. Fast glue usually leaves a weak joint and a visible scar, and it makes a proper repair harder. A structural repair pins the break internally and blends the paint so the damage disappears. Send photos to the statue repair and restoration service for an assessment.
General care guidance for hand-painted resin display pieces. Follow any care notes supplied with your statue.