Notice catalographique « Non-traditional gilding techniques in gilded objects conservation : research into loss compensation in water-gilded surfaces using synthetic polymers »

CONTENTS:

COMPENSATION OF LOSSES ON GILDED SURFACES: REVIEW OF CURRENT METHODS AND PRACTICES

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRADITIONAL MATTE WATER-GILDING TECHNIQUE

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FROM THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

CURRENT PRACTICE

INFORMATIVE JUDGMENT

STAGE I: SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE MATERIALS AND INITIAL TESTING OF THEIR SUITABILITY FOR GILDING

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF POLYMERS SUITABLE FOR TESTING

MATERIALS SELECTED FOR THE FROJECT

Acrylic dispersions

Rhoplex AC-33/N-580(1:1)

Plextol B500 (mixed 1:1 with water/ethanol [4:1])

Liquitex Matte Medium

Acrylic Resin: Paraloid B-72

Poly(vinyl acetate) Resin: AYAF

Hydrogenated Hydrocarbon Resin: Regalrez 1094

Poly(2-Fthyl-2-Oxazoline): Aquazol®500

PREPARATION OF SAMPLES

TESTING CRITERIA

TESTING RESULTS

Rhoplex®AC33/N580 (1:1, v/v)

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface after application of traditional protective coating

Removability of dried film from the part gilded with traditional gilding technique

Plextol B 500

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Evaluation of appearance of the gilded surface after application of traditional protective coating

Removability of dried film from the part gilded with traditional gilding technique

Liqutex Matte Medium

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Evaluation of appearance of the gilded surface after application of traditional protective coating

Removability of dried film from the part gilded with traditional gilding technique

Paraloid B-72 in DEB

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Paraloid B-72 in toluene

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface after application

Removability of dried film from the part gilded with traditional gilding technique

Paraloid B-72 in xylene

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface after application of traditional protective coating

Removability of dried film from the part gilded with traditional gilding technique

Aquazol 500 (poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) in water/ethanol mixture

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface after application of traditional protective coating

Removability of dried film from the part gilded with traditional gilding technique

Regalrez 1094

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface after application of traditional protective coating

Removability of dried film from the part gilded with traditional gilding technique

PVAc AYAF

Evaluation of performance during application of polymers

Evaluation of the appearance of dried film prior to gold leaf application

Application of gold leaf and evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface

Evaluation of the appearance of the gilded surface after application of traditional protective coating

Removability of dried film from the part gilded with traditional gilding technique

Discussion

Regalrez 1094

Paraloid B-72

Aquazol 500

AYAF

Acrylic dispersions

CONCLUSIONS

STAGE II: FURTHER EXPERIMENTS WITH SELECTED MATERIALS

GILDING WITH ACRYLIC RESIN: PARALOID B72

Investigation into performance of Paraloid B-72 depending on resin concentration, solvents selected for this resin, and methods of reactivation of dried films

Preparation of the samples

Testing results

Discussion

Practical Application

Case study: Conservation of the frame for the drawing Wet Evening, George Street, Sydney, 1889, by A.H.Fullwood (1863-1930)

Results and discussion

GILDING WITH POLYVINYL ACETATE RESIN: AYAF

Investigation into the performance of AYAF depending on resin concentration, solvents selected for this resin, and methods of reactivation of dried films

Preparation of the samples

Testing results

Discussion

Practical application

Case study: Conservation of the frame for the drawing Reflections, 1898, by A.H.Fullwood (1863-1930)

Results and discussion

GILDING WITH ACRYlIC DISPERSION: PLEXTOL 8500

Investigation into the performance of Plextol B500 depending on solution concentrations and methods of activation of dried films

Preparation of samples

Testing results

Additional tests

Discussion

Practical Implications

Case study 1: Conservation of the frame for the painting Madame De La Porte, 1754, by Jean-Marc Nattier (1685-1766)

Case study 2: Conservation of the frame for the painting Art Students, 1895, by E.Phillips Fox (1865—1915)

Case study 3: Conservation of the frame for the painting The apotheosis of a pope and martyr, by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1727-1804)

Case study 4: Conservation of the frame for the painting Classical Landscape, c.1820, by John Glover(1767-1849)

Case study 5: Conservation of the frame for the painting Port-Goulphar, Belle-Ile, 1887, by Claude Monet, 1840-1926

Results and Discussion

CONCLUSIONS

STAGE III: TESTING AGING BEHAVIOUR OF SURFACES GILDED USING SELECTED SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

ACCELERATED AGING VS. NATURAL AGING

FACTORS DETERMINING DEGRADATION OF GILDED SURFACES

Wood - Gesso composite

AGING BEHAVIOUR OF POLYMERS

AIMS OF THE TESTS

DESCRIPTION OF TEST

Preparation of two frame samples

Test Conditions

Frame No 1

Frame No 2

Testing Criteria

Examination procedures

RESULTS

Testing Results in the Dry-Wet Chamber - Frame No 1

Testing Results in the Sunroom - Frame No 2

• Gilding - Conservation and restoration
• Gilding - Technique
• Dorure - Conservation et restauration