To most, a lamp shattered into 17 pieces would be a loss. To our Objects Department, it was an exciting challenge. The Objects Department can be one of the most fascinating places in The Center: due to the wide range of materials used, treatments can range in complexity from simple surface cleanings to lengthy, in-depth reconstructions – and this lamp certainly required the latter.
Josh McCauley, Senior Objects Conservator, giving a of the Objects Department in 2019.
When the lamp first arrived at The Center, it was in pieces, gently nestled into its packaging. It had clearly suffered impact damage to the upper portion, enough to detach one of the bulb sockets. Our client had provided as many of the tiny pieces of shattered glass as they could, but it was too early to tell how much of a puzzle this project would be to put back together.
The lamp was in pieces when it first arrived at The Center.
The client retained as many fragments as possible, visible in the plastic bag.
Josh McCauley, Senior Objects Conservator, began by carefully disassembling the lamp components. Next, the wire was removed.
The wire is visible in this before-treatment photo.
Then it was time to begin piecing together the glass fragments with a conservation grade epoxy – the appropriate material took several weeks to dry, making this a careful, slow, and delicate process.
The lamp after treatment.
Once the salvageable fragments were reattached, the remaining small losses were filled with a tinted epoxy to match.
Repairs are barely visible after treatment.
What might’ve been an unsalvageable antique was turned back into it’s former self – some might call this transformation magical, but it’s just another day for our Objects Department!
Before treatment.
After treatment.
