Issue 42 summer 24 web - Flipbook - Page 50
capitals of the monument which have been carefully
monitored over two years by Professor John Burland who
concludes no significant change had occurred.
So it is that with our esteemed colleague Deborah
Carthy’s unrivalled wealth of experience and knowledge
of stone that the team set about cleaning decades of
ingrained dirt and dust which had accumulated since the
1960 restoration by the team overseen by Professor Baker
of the Royal College of Art.
After the Chroma teams extensive surface conservation
cleaning treatment all loose grout was raked out,
regrouted and retouching was required to match the
patina of the old but stable material. All loose fills were
removed, and new filler repairs applied along with some
large fractures on the reclining figures, capitals, soffit of
pediment and on the pediment itself. These areas then
were retouched with a faux painted marble/alabaster paint
finish to blend. Some areas such as the fracture in the
heraldic arms were secured and reattached using stone
resin and stainless steel pins.
The polychrome painted surfaces had previously been
treated with a porous waterborne media and the surface
had subsequently turned to powder so these were
stabilised, and retouched with gouache paint.
Upon completion of the repairs the unpainted elements
of the monument had an application of microcrystalline
Renaissance wax to restore a beautiful lustre.
Ryan-John Wilson M.F.A
Chroma Conservation Ltd
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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