This incredibly intricate frame also came from The Cushing Memorial Library and Archives at Texas A&M University Library. The frame is composed of wood, gesso, plaster, and an original combination of metal and gold leaf. Unusually so, the frieze is composed of large pebbles and gilded. This is a non-traditional move away from most frames, which choose a fine grain of sand.
The frame prior to receiving treatment.
The frieze had split apart from the frame: on the right side of the frame, a 45-degree cut had been made through the entire piece just beneath the center of the panel. Several pieces of ornament were broken and missing, and the piece exhibited bronze overpainting on portions of the ornamentation.
Some of the missing ornamentation.
To begin treatment, the broken miters and separated frieze were stabilized with wood glue and filled with rabbit skin glue based gesso putty. The cut in the right side rail was stabilized and filled in the same manner by Kevin, one of our frames and gilded objects conservators. From there, the gesso losses were consolidated to prevent further loss, and then the piece was mechanically cleaned with soot sponges and cleaned further with mineral spirits. Bronze overpainting was removed with methyl pyrrolidone. Minor scratches were inpainted.
Silicone molds were taken of the missing ornament and cast in hydrocal. From there, the bole was matched and applied to losses and the new ornament. As per the original frame, high points of the ornament were water gilded and burnished. The rest was oil gilded in metal leaf and toned to match the surrounding original finish.
We can’t wait to see where the Cushing Memorial Library decides to display in this beautiful piece!
The frame after treatment.
