Restoration of a Picture Frame

The frame was firstly surface cleaned dry and then cleaned with lightly damp cotton buds. To reduce the stains on the textile covering the inner frame, agar-agar gel sheets was chosen because of the good reduction of stains, ease of use, and relatively good ageing resistance. An agar-agar gel sheet can be used at room temperature and cut into the exact shape of the stains. After applying a gelatine isolation layer, a filler of two types of chalk and gelatine was applied to losses in the wooden frame. Fills as well as losses to the painted surface were retouched with watercolours. Worn away areas of the bolus ground were retouched, and the dominating red colour of the bolus showing due to the loss of the gilding was toned and reintegrated by retouching with gold watercolour paint.

A German-language copy of the condition and treatment report for this object can be found here. For the password, please contact beth.procopio@gmail.com