José Luís Silva is a Portuguese conservator-restorer and decorative arts specialist, and CEO of the conservation, restoration and decorative arts company Cádmio – Decorative Systems. His work focuses on the conservation and restoration of historic interiors and wooden works of art, alongside the execution of traditional decorative techniques such as scagliola, Venetian stucco and painted imitations in both historic and contemporary buildings. He collaborates with conservation and decorative arts professionals in Portugal and internationally on a wide range of heritage projects. His academic research centres on wood technology and the scientific identification of wood in artistic objects.
José Luís Silva began his higher education in 2000 with a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Communication and Design, specialising in Landscape Design, at the Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
Due to his strong interest in the arts, particularly drawing and painting, which led to several exhibitions over the years, he eventually shifted his professional path. After working as a landscape designer until the end of 2006, he was invited to learn traditional Portuguese tile painting techniques.
In 2007, he received his first commission from a conservation and restoration company to replicate historical tile panels and began training there as a conservator-restorer, working mainly with wooden objects such as gilded altarpieces, furniture, sculpture and structural elements. After collaborating with several companies, he undertook both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Porto) between 2010 and 2015, specialising in the conservation and treatment of polychromed wooden sculpture and developing analytical methods for the scientific identification of wood in artistic objects.
Following completion of his Master’s degree, he continued professional conservation and restoration work in Portugal, France, the United Kingdom and Ireland until 2020. That year, he was invited by the Conservation and Restoration programme at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa to lecture in Wood Physiology and Technology and Conservation and Restoration Techniques for Wooden Artworks.
In 2021, he was invited to pursue a PhD in Conservation and Restoration at the same institution. His four-year research project, Scientific Identification of the Woods Used in Portuguese Sculpture from the 16th to the 19th Centuries: Contribution to the Knowledge of Techniques, Materials and Environmental Factors, led to conference presentations and publications in scientific journals. He has also co-supervised Master’s and doctoral theses.
Between 2015 and 2021, he attended specialised training in Italy, Ireland and Spain with master craftsmen in techniques such as scagliola, Venetian stucco, graining (faux wood), faux marble and trompe-l’œil painting.
He is currently CEO of Cádmio – Decorative Systems, whose work centres on the conservation and restoration of historic building interiors, including sculpture, easel and mural painting, and furniture, as well as the execution of traditional decorative finishes using both traditional and contemporary methods in historic and modern buildings.
Memberships:
- ARP – Associação Portuguesa de Conservadores Restauradores (Portuguese Association of Conservators and Restorers)
- IAWA – International Association of Wood Anatomists
- PhD researcher at CITAR – Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Contact information:
- Company email: luissilva@cadmiods.com
- Personal email: jlamorimdasilva@gmail.com
Social media:
Pictured:
1. Oak graining on the Grade II listed pub Lamb & Flag.
Oxford, UK. Date: 2023
Oak graining with Shane Ralph – https://www.swralphdecorativepainting.com/graining
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvhz1Fwojpi/?next=%2F&img_index=1
2. Faux Portoro, Faux Carrara and 23ct gold leaf gilding.
Private Château, Cher region, France. Date: 2019
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu6GWe_FJNx/?next=%2F
Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iim-UuDr4CE
3. Faux Yellow Siena marble with Trompe L’oeil panels.
Venerável Ordem Terceira de São Francisco, Porto, Portugal. Date: 2020
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7BuG8mlAat/?next=%2F&img_index=1
Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guq5jG-C5EU
4. Scagliola tabletop for private clients. Inspired by Breccia Medicia Viola marble.
Private Château, Cher, France. Date: 2018
Learn more: https://cadmiods.com/portfolio/table-top/
5. Gilt ceiling frames.
Johnstown Castle CO, Wexford, Ireland.
Date: 2023.Oak graining by Shane Ralph – https://www.swralphdecorativepainting.com/graining
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUNshMWjZvh/?img_index=1
6. Conservation and restoration of 18th century polychromed and gilt wooden altar.
Main Retable – Mother Church of Teixoso, Covilhã, Portugal. Date: 2008
Learn more: https://cadmiods.com/portfolio/teixoso-main-retable/
7. Conservation and restoration of 16 – 17th century polychromed and gilt sculpture on wood.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Porto Cathedral, Portugal. Date: 2014.
Learn more: https://cadmiods.com/portfolio/saint-catherine-of-alexandria/
8. Conservation and restoration of 19th century detached mural painting Battle of the French against the Russians.
Private collector, Monção, Portugal. Date: 2014
Learn more: https://cadmiods.com/portfolio/mural-moncao/
9. Conservation and restoration of oil mural painting.
Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9z5uQfoL6-/?img_index=1
10. Conservation and restoration of 19th century tile panels on historic building façade.
Private owner, Tomar, Portugal. Date: 2019
Learn more: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxstWp6FUNq/?next=%2F
