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Treatment; 19 Jul 2017; Surface clean. Check and secure surface and structural stability and secure as necessary.; Organics

Reason: Permanent Exhibition
Description: The mounts previously used to hold the figures upright in the North Stairs display case, were set up on a large piece of wood clamped to a bench top in the conservation studio, in order to be able to work on the figures standing upright. The surface was cleaned with a soft brush and low powered vacuum cleaner. Areas of lifting paint were secured with Lascaux MfC (Medium for Consolidation - finely dispersed, aqueous dispersion of an acrylic copolymer) applied to the edges of losses / flakes to be fed under the lifting paint with a fine sable brush, after pre-wetting of the surface with white spirit. Light pressure was applied on the treated areas during the curing time of the adhesive. The figures were laid down on their back supported by Tyvek cushions in order to consolidate the wood at their base. A number of consolidant were tested and the best consolidant effect and least visually changing result was achieved using Paraloid B72 (methyl ethyl methacrlylate) in Acetone and Industrial Methylated Spirit (20:80 mix) applied with micro syringe, after pre-wetting of the surface with white spirit.
Details: Treatment