Summary
This wheel thrown ceramic cruet was selected for exhibition in Infinite Blue at the Brooklyn Museum. The object was in good condition, with some minor losses to the rim. The surface was dusty, and a few adhesive drips were visible on the surface. The accession number had been painted on the base with a thick, yellowed barrier layer.
Treatment involved surface cleaning using water, acetone and ethanol. Small losses existing around the rim were sized with dilute B-72 mixture, filled using Flugger acrylic spackle and inpainted with Golden acrylic paints and gloss mediums. Following consultation with the curator, it was decided that inpainting should aim to imitate the base color of the glaze but not incorporate decorative elements.
The thick yellowed adhesive on the base of the cruet was tested for solubility in a number of solvents, including acetone, ethanol, xylene, and toluene. The adhesive was not readily removed using these solvents, and so ZipStrip paint and Varnish Stripper was tested. This product poses health and safety hazards as it contains dichloromethane - precautions were taken including the use of fume extraction and limiting exposure to the material. The adhesive was successfully removed using ZipStrip and a new accession number was applied to the base using B72 barrier layers.
This wheel thrown ceramic cruet was selected for exhibition in Infinite Blue at the Brooklyn Museum. The object was in good condition, with some minor losses to the rim. The surface was dusty, and a few adhesive drips were visible on the surface. The accession number had been painted on the base with a thick, yellowed barrier layer.
Treatment involved surface cleaning using water, acetone and ethanol. Small losses existing around the rim were sized with dilute B-72 mixture, filled using Flugger acrylic spackle and inpainted with Golden acrylic paints and gloss mediums. Following consultation with the curator, it was decided that inpainting should aim to imitate the base color of the glaze but not incorporate decorative elements.
The thick yellowed adhesive on the base of the cruet was tested for solubility in a number of solvents, including acetone, ethanol, xylene, and toluene. The adhesive was not readily removed using these solvents, and so ZipStrip paint and Varnish Stripper was tested. This product poses health and safety hazards as it contains dichloromethane - precautions were taken including the use of fume extraction and limiting exposure to the material. The adhesive was successfully removed using ZipStrip and a new accession number was applied to the base using B72 barrier layers.
Treatment Images
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