Collections Online | British Museum

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Treatment; 23 Nov 1998; Req.No: 67701 Light surface clean; Metals

Reason: Permanent Exhibition
Description: November 1998 Cleaned off superficial dirt by swabbing with IMS. Used a scalpel to remove the black-spot, soil deposits and the black waxy deposit from the detail. Dry brushed to remove dust. The old accession numbers proved difficult to remove. None of the solvents (acetone, IMS or white spirit) were effective. Used Nitromors water soluble (methylene chloride,sodium hydroxide,cellulose) applied on a cotton wool swab. Allowed to stand for two minutes. Rinsed off with distilled water, white spirit and IMS. Had to repeat the procedure twice to remove the paint from the surface. The resulting surface was slightly duller than that around it. Applied a small quantity of Renaissance wax (cosmolloid 80H-microcrystalline wax,BASF hard wax "A"-polyethylene wax,white spirit) to the area and polished with a medium brush. The area was still dull. Applied a thin coat of Paraloid (2.5% in acetone) to the area. This was more effective. Final brushing of whole surface. CRB
Details: Treatment