They were light, cheap, easily portable and found all over Roman homes. For the most brilliant gilded surface, the gesso must be smoothed and additional layers of ground must be added. French polishing yields a finish of remarkable sheen and clarity, which is frequently imitated by other finishing methods and materials. De Renzo, D.J., editor. Hicks, Edward. Part III" Studies in Conservation, vol. Commonly used vegetable dyes included madder root, berry dyes, saffron, alkanet root, indigo, and annatto. Bronze Seat found at Pompeii, now in Bronze Stand found at Herculaneum,.Naples Museum. Applying varnish and colorants to scratches and nicks involves little other than the introduction of a small amount of material to the surface in order to provide some measure of visual uniformity. The first and probably the most ancient of the opaque colorants are the earth colors, which are basically naturally occurring mineral (mostly clay) pigments. Wolbers, Richard. Damar (or more properly damars), results from the harvesting of exudates from trees in Malaysia. Once applied, the gold leaf itself can then be burnished to a mirror surface with a polished stone. Solubility and Solvents for Conservation Problems. ----- "Solvents and Solutions - Part 2," The Woodfinisher, no. Important vegetable waxes are carnauba and candelilla, with esparto, ouricuri (or ouricury), and berry wax as minor components in some coatings. This is accomplished by the polymerization of the mono or oligomeric constituents of the formulation. Candelilla is also a leaf wax, being derived from a shrub indigenous the U.S. southwest and northern Mexico. The first of these is to visually ascertain the damage and, if possible, formulate an idea as to the cause of the deterioration. In most cases the excess oil is wiped off the diminish the film thickness and speed up drying by allowing greater oxygen interaction with the oil. Careful mechanical removal of grime from the surface can be useful for the object. "The Finish Crack'd," Fine Woodworking, no.49, November 1984, pp. Fourth, restoration should be detectable under close scrutiny, to insure that future caretakers and scholars are not confused or misled by what may appear unaltered to casual or uninformed viewers. Lomax, Suzanne Quillen, and Sarah Fisher. Unfortunately for the objects in question, linseed oil becomes extremely chromagenic in the presence of acids, and in fact turns black over a relatively short period of time. Gisela Richter’s typological approach is useful in tracing developments of Greek furniture into Roman expressions. Degraded coatings may be partially or completely reformed using solvents. Romans, from wealthy to poor, were entertainers. Equally probable is damage to leafed surfaces through the deterioration not of the metal leaf, but rather of the underlying ground that is the foundation of the entire system of applying the material. After the impurities of the heated solution have settled, the liquid ceresine is decanted. 2. The difference between natural resins and gums can be difficult to define, and are thus they are presented together in this section. through the 21 st century and includes masterpieces created by Mildred Thompson, Peter Paul Rubens, Winslow Homer, Thomas Moran, Whitfield Lovell, Norman Rockwell, and Romare Bearden. This means that trying to leave the object as undisturbed as possible and yet insure the long term stability, function and preservation of that object. London: Archetype Books, 2000. -----"Wax-resin surface polishes." "Solubility Parameters and Varnish Removal: A Survey:" The Conservator, No. Extreme care must be employed because of the inherent fragility of the microscopically thin metal leaf, and the likelihood that the binder holding the leaf to the surface could be damaged by vigorous cleaning. Rosin is usually very brittle in film form, darkens quickly once dry, and is not considered too desirable as a coating. Another ubiquitous furniture item in Roman homes was the couch. Ancient Rome “I found Rome a city of bricks, but left it of marble.” –Caesar Augustus. Williams, Donald C. "Finding Common Ground: Refinishers and Conservators." Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art, 1986. ----- "Natural Resins for Traditional Finishing," Professional Refinisher, September/October 1999. If the surface coating is clean and physically sound yet needs additional optical saturation and enhancement, a wax coat may be applied. Familiarity with historic materials, their use, and their appearance makes these decisions more easily reached. The wealthy had specific banqueting couches, used exclusively for that purpose. Clear wax coating of all types was a common practice in the fabrication of pre industrial furniture. At its most severe the problem is severe the coating which is supposed to enhance the substrate, will instead eventually obscure it. 3. Mineral Waxes: Their Preparation and Uses. 3) Fleming, S.J., 1999: Roman Glass: Reflections on Cultural Change, Appendix A (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum). It ranges from engraved gemstones to exceptionalvases and marble statues. Artistic technique for the application of these paints is as disparate as the practitioners, ranging from itinerant folk artists to trained painters working in large ateliers. Microcrystalline waxes have slightly higher molecular weights than paraffins, and thus are harder and have higher melting points. Like damar, the term copal actually refers to an imprecisely defined group of natural resins. Finally, the presence of chemicals which are added to the surface once the coating has been completed can induce degradation (see below). Removal can be mechanical (abraded, scraped or chipped) chemical (solvent removal) or biochemical (using enzymes to render the film non-viable). Here, the information about the coatings is loosely grouped according to the respective material's functionality as a coating on wood. Knowledge of Roman furniture is derived mainly from depictions in frescoesand representations in sculpture, along with actual pieces of furniture, fragments, and fittings… Plasticizers include oils, rubbers, and resins softer than the primary film forming resin in a coating, and act to keep the hardened film flexible and prevent fracturing or shattering of the film. All of this contributes to determining whether a finish is potentially original and should be retained or whether the existing finish is incorrect and of little historic significance (such as polyurethane on a Philadelphia Rococo piece). Another source of black colorant was asphaltum, a natural tar. 6. It is very important to know what is an appropriate finish for the piece in question, so that any actions undertaken will be sympathetic to it. Solvents, as the name implies, are used to dissolve the resin (the "solute") into an appropriate liquid (the "solvent") which can be applied to the surface of the object. In fact, in the articles which discuss treatments, the information presented is intended to be appropriate only for the specific application cited by the author. I. While all copals are of vegetable origin, some have been fossilized and some are balsams, or exudates from living trees. Conversely, reactive coatings like oil/resin varnishes are not as likely to be improved by such an approach. It seems that these tables were generally carved, ornately designed with images relevant to the function of that object. Wehlte, Kurt. 69 73. Once the ground has been stabilized and cleaning is complete, areas of loss to the metal leaf may be re leafed. The museum said the finds are important for understanding Britain's past. Bigelow, Deborah, and Fuller, Tamsen. In most cases the exact chemical reaction process of the polymerization is relatively unimportant for either the creating craftsman or the conservator/restorer. These items were very elegant and costly in the Roman markets. Any of the areas of discussion here, coating materials and techniques, coating deterioration, and treatment of degraded coatings, could and have filled volumes. Roman furniture is largely based on Greek and Etruscan precedents but can be categorized into a few types. To a large extent, the types and styles of ancient Roman furniture followed those of their Classical and Hellenistic Greek predecessors. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? In solvent release or "spirit varnish" systems the coating film is a residue remaining after the evaporation of the volatile solvent from a solution containing the solvent and the involatile film former. A second broad category of definition for coating materials involves the drying mechanism of the film, which in turn may reveal chemical and physical properties such as solubility, thermoplasticity, rheology, and others. Drying oils used in finishing wooden objects are all of vegetable origin, mostly squeezed from nuts and seeds. Gregorius, Rudolf. The wax would then be polished to a high sheen under little or no heat by rubbing the surface with linen cloths or reed polishing brushes. However, the varnish obtained from this use of amber is considered to be among the very finest natural resin varnishes. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. Preservation and restoration deals not only with furniture of the ancient past but also of the recent past. "The Use of Wax Finishes on Pre-Industrial American Furniture." The craft skills employed in finish conservation are virtually identical to those used other finishing procedures, although the application of those skills may be highly specialized. Oils crosslink with age, which means that they are not easily removed, and under some circumstances may darken considerably. Drying mechanisms are separated into two broad categories; solvent release and polymerization. Because of these individual differences there are no rote methods, no "how to" recipe book treatments that will work in all cases. These varnishes may be combined in turn with pigments to form oil paints. Tempera is a medium of egg yolk and water. O'Neil, Isabel. The Ancient Home brings you back the glory of an empire creating a collection worthy of collectors and enthusiasts of ancient Roman decor and artifacts. On the whole, best practices for furniture care and preservation must involve formulating and implementing a multi faceted approach for stabilizing and preserving furniture. The Permanent Collection spans from 2100 B.C. Visiting the gallery Particularly popular with school groups and families, Room 69 allows you to explore the lives of ancient Mediterranean peoples through objects used in everyday life. United States Patent and Trademark Office patent 6,156,108. What is its nature? Marina del Rey, CA. Our Roman Forge furniture, marble tables and other Roman furniture for sale is risen from the ranks of reproductions up to fine art inspired by museum … Due to the fact that degraded organic materials are sensitive to extreme pH conditions, non ionic detergents are preferred, even though as cleaners they are not as effective as strongly alkali solutions. By definition, pigments are opaque, being particulate suspensions in the medium employed. In poorer Roman homes, the top of a cabinet may also serve another extremely important function: altar. Liquifying the waxes can be accomplished by heat and solvents, and to some extent by emulsifying. The Materials and Techniques of Painting. 29, no. It is prudent to mention at this time that inpainting should not done directly on bare wood, but should instead be executed as a laminate with resin coats above and below, which serve to isolate the coloring layer in between. Second is the choice of materials which, if necessary, can be removed without further damage to the object. Wealthier Romans had folding stools as well, a status symbol of the time. While restoration or refinishing certainly may be part of the process, in many instances it is not as important as an understanding of the nature of the materials, the treatment of their deterioration and ultimately their preservation. Amber is mined from the ground primarily in Europe, and has historically been used as a gemstone. Cleaning the accretions and adulterants which obscure the polychrome is the least intrusive treatment, although it can be very important. European Revivalism. Rome: ICCROM, 1985. Mills, John S., and Perry Smith, editors. Treating damaged or degraded coatings, like any aspect of thoughtful furniture care, begins with an examination and evaluation of the affected area. Diminishing mechanical stresses through mitigation of environmental fluctuations (relative humidity [RH] especially) should always be part of the best possible scenario for preserving coatings. Sanding lubricants modify the properties of the dried coating, and driers catalyze and accelerate the hardening process for oil based coatings. The oil may be used in this form but is frequently processed and purified using a large number of procedures to achieve specific properties. Restorers and other caretakers must be able to do what is necessary, not just decide what is necessary. One particular application of shellac which is widely admired is a technique called "French polishing," popular from about 1825 on, whereby the a dilute mixture of shellac in alcohol is applied on a tightly wrapped cloth pad known as a "rubber." Beeswax tends to be soft with a low melting point of 60-65°C/140-149°F. ----- "Boston Japanned Furniture," Boston Furniture of the Eighteenth Century. 2. Sanding additives, which act as dry lubricants, also include metal stearates, primarily of zinc. imaginable degree, area of Leggett, William F. Ancient and Medieval Dyes. "Amalgamating Aged Finishes." CXXIX, no. Philadelphia PA, 1978. Following removal of the material, the remaining coating can be manipulated by the means already discussed: it can be waxed, consolidated, recoated, or reformed. ----- "Polymer Stabilizers." Preprints of the Papers Presented at the Sixteenth Annual Meeting of the American Institute for Conservation. Recently furniture conservation staff at SCMRE received two patents for furniture polishes developed here, combining to provide the most stable and highest performing furniture polishes thus far. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Painting techniques vary from verisimilitude to neutral value crosshatching which merely acts to the... Be more stable than nitrocellulose, and related to the substrate or of the must... 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