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Treatment; 23 May 2006; Clean. Check underside for loose bits.; Organics

Reason: Temporary Exhibition
Description: The object was cleaned with smoke sponge. Some of the visible white paint stains on the sides of the object were removed with barely damp swabs of deionised water under the microscope. The powdery wood that was lining the tunnels eaten by insects was removed with bamboo sticks. The hollow structures underneath the overlapping barkcloth were filled with a mixture of 20% Paraloid B72 in Acetone mixed with glass bubbles and yellow and golden ochre powder pigments. This mixture was allowed to thicken by letting some of the Acetone evaporate. It was then used as a filler and pushed with bamboo sticks and tweezers into the hollow structures to support the remaining barkcloth. The colour of the filler was found to be too bright though, therefore it was darkened with Liquitex Acrylic Colours (Rax Sienna and Black). The flaking barkloth was consolidated using Lascaux 10% 360:498 (1:2) in water. White Spirit was first applied underneath the flake. After 30 seconds, the consolidant was applied with a very fine brush around the edges of the flake and drawn underndeath it by capillary action. The flakes were then clamped down overnight using carbon rod clamps. The treatment was carried out by Heidrun Gassner.
Details: Treatment