Treatment and Research Report for Louis XV Wrought Iron Table

Newport, RI 

The table pictured in its current form, with six legs, and in its possible original iteration, with four. 

The purpose of this project is to develop a plan for treatment of PSNC.468a-b before it is returned to its original location at Marble House and put on view. The aims of this research are the following;

An understanding of:
  • the original surface treatment, including gilding/paint scheme
  • the elements of the table
  • Any subsequent repairs
  • Any subsequent structural alterations
  • An original design of the table
  • The fabrication of the table
  • this table’s presentation in the house in its period of importance.

Based on this research informed suggestions for treatment can be made.

A portion of the paint sampling can be found below. 


  1. Preparatory layer for gilding. Large grains  present. No fluorescence.
  1. Gilding
  1. Accumulated debris
  1. Primer - a thick layer with flecks of rust. Green fluorescence.
  1. Primer - a thick layer of white with blue fluorescence. Lead flecks as dryer?
  1. Sealer - translucent grey layer with little fluorescence.
  1. Sealer with warm fluorescence.
  1. Opaque red with sandy pigments
  1. Red glaze with resinous binder with fluorescence
  1. Gilding





Treatment Report for Statue and Stand

Preservation Society of Newport County, RI



CONDITION
PSNC.6178 Statuette

There is no major damage to the statuette and all soiling is superficial.

There is evidence of an old repair on hands where previous in-painting, soiling, and discolored adhesive are present. Imperfections are present on the bottom rim of the statue. Old discolored adhesive residue is present on the rim of the base, as well as an orange waxy substance. The same orange waxy substance is found on the proper right of the reverse of the statuette; as well as on the tassel on the front of the statuette’s chest. There is general soiling on the interior of the statuette. A hole at the top of the head suggests a possible location for a hair ornament which is no longer extant.


PSNC.6178 b Stand

There is all-over soiling on the stand and severe soiling along ornamented surfaces. There is an area of loss on the upper rim. The label is lifting.  



TREATMENT
  1. Deionized water and cotton swabs were used to remove general soiling on the outside surface of the statue. A bamboo spatula was used to mechanically remove waxy residue. Laponite®, a synthetic smectite clay gel in water, was used to soften and remove adhesive on the base. 70/30 water/ethanol was used to clean the soiling on the interior of the statue.
  2. A Mylar®, a colorless thermoplastic film cover was cut and applied to secure the label with double-sided tape. The base was cleaned all-over with deionized water and cotton swabs, and then excessive soot and dirt was removed with Maripol, an all-purpose liquid detergent from the Pratt Modular Cleaning System. 


Stand before (left) and after (right) treatment

Chateau-sur-Mer Fragment System

Preservation Society of Newport County, RI

I created a system for the retrieval and storage of decorative fragments found at the Chateau-sur-Mer property. I communicated with house keeping and other departments on proper fragment retrieval, storage and sorting. 


RISD Museum 
Providence, RI

Sample collection from an etruscan antefix in 2019



My first project :)