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Art conservation and restoration are similar and different. Art conservation is the profession devoted to the preservation of antiquities for the future. Some of the activities included in conservation include examination, documentation some treatment and preventative care, all the while supported by research and education. The conservator also wants to establish the causes of deterioration and they want to prevent further deterioration. A conservator is generally academically trained to the Master's level. The training they have might be scientific, some art history and artistic aspects. The conservator tries to handle and work on the artifact as little as possible, and what work he does do he uses reversible materials as often as possible. A conservator has to understand the structure of the artifact he is working with.

Restoration involves the cleaning, repairing, and sometimes reconstruction of the work. One of the most common tasks of restorers is the removal of residue from sculptures or paintings. Most restorers have been trained in artistic ways, and they get there knowledge through trial and error. Restoration tries to bring the artifact back to what we think it looked like. The problem with that is everyone views things differently and what we think the artifact is suppose to look like doesn't mean that's the way the artist painted it and how the artist wanted it to look. In appropriate restoration may adversely affect an objects long-term preservation. Repairing a damaged textile by re-embroidering or renewing missing or worn areas may do more harm than good. (The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council)
Both conservators and restorers share some aspects of their work. Both want to preserve the integrity of the artifact. They both want to preserve its history and how it was made. Both use methods that are reversible and they both use materials that can be removed without damaging the artifact. What has happened to the artifact could be historically important. They both also share the belief of not to destroy or hide evidence of how the artifact was made and the composition of the artifact. Some people believe that restoration would damage the piece, and that the damage done to the artifact is part of history itself. Often conservation and restoration is carried out by the same person. The decision on which path to choose, to repair an artifact depends on the client. The conservator and restorer do discuss the options with the client but inevitably

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