Restoration Intervention: Chromolithographs of Ornithological Tables 1800

Notes about the restoration project

This restoration project involved a series of 19th century works on paper, chromolithographs depicting birds from all over the world.

All the works were preserved inside the ancient montages in a golden frame and beautiful passpartout decorated with golden threads. On the back of the works, the ancient labels with the names of the birds and paper labels of the antique dealer.

The main damage was due to the washout that had affected not only the works but obviously also the linings and the passpartout, the acidity of the supports and the undulations of the original passpartout.

We proceeded with the removal of the gore through a wet procedure with rigid gels, de-acidification of the works and passpartout assembly inside the original frames and lining with barrier paper.

To further enhance the works, a second passpartout in conservative green cardboard was added above the original passpartout, often very damaged, in order to protect the original passpartout from direct contact with the glass. On the front, all the elements of the ancient assembly have been reused and all the original labels have been replaced.

The work was finally placed back in the original frame after mounting in passpartout made with acid free cardboard.

BEFORE THE RESTORATION INTERVENTION

AFTER THE RESTORATION INTERVENTION

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