- Reason
- Permanent Exhibition
- Description
- It was found that de-ionised water, cold and warm on a cotton wool swab, was sufficient to clean most of the superficial dirt. Various cleaning tests were done in order to reduce the black dirt concentrated mainly on the face, hair and hat. Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone), Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol), White Spirit (composition variable - petroleum distillate) were first tested on a cotton wool swab. No satisfactory results were obtained. Then, the first two solvents were again tested in a poultice made of Laponite RD (sodium magnesium lithium silicate) on japanese tissue and covered with cling film. Still no results were obtained. Nitromors (water soluble, methylene chloride,sodium hydroxide,cellulose), Liniment of soap (camphor,oleic acid,rosemary oil,potassium hydroxide) and more solvents such as toluene, pure alcohol, butanone, 2-ethoxy ethanol still didn't give good results. 2-ethoxy ethanol, Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone), pure alcohol and butanone were also put into a poultice, each for about 2 min. 30 sec. with no success. Finally, Autochrome metal polish (emulsified blend of abrasives,emulsifiers & mineral oil hydrocarbons) was applied on a cotton wool swab and some of the black dirt was removed. The complexity of the substance justified a chemical analysis. The results gathered from the conservation research department showed the presence of carbon, some unidentified organic material (it could well be some sort of resin), gypsum and calcite. After a first general cleaning, a steam cleaner at the lowest pressure was locally applied in order to see if the cleaning could be taken any further on some areas. Spot cleaning was also done using some small patches of Laponite RD poultices (sodium magnesium lithium silicate) in Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol) as well as Nitromors (water soluble, methylene chloride,sodium hydroxide,cellulose) and cotton wool swabs. Later, the resin found on the break of the base was removed with Nitromors water soluble (methylene chloride,sodium hydroxide,cellulose) and cotton. The old fills were removed mechanically with a scalpel and the edges cleaned carefully. Refilling was done using Microballoons (silica or phenolic resin), Paraloid B72 (ethyl methacrylate copolymer) in Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol) and Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone). Retouching was carried out with Rowney's Cryla colours (acrylic). A coating was applied to the sculpture with polyethelene glycol 6000. On the fragment of the base, adhesive staining from masking tape could not be removed with the basic solvents. Mechanical removal with scalpel under binocular microscope was therefore necessary in order to minimise the two stains. Stainless steel dowels, diameter 5mm, were cut in a lengh of 60mm, and the base was drilled in order to fit the dowels. These were later stuck with polyester resin (General). The two fragments of toes were then stuck back in place with HMG Paraloid B72 (methyl ethyl methacrlylate), the remaining gaps filled with Microballoons (silica or phenolic resin) and Paraloid B72 (ethyl methacrylate copolymer) in Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone) and Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol) , then retouched. A final coating was applied over these areas with polyethelene glycol 6000. These were then retouched with Cryla acrylic paints.
- Details
- Treatment
