Conserving Connections: Reviving the Essence of Family Artifacts

Within a family's history lie four unique pieces, each exuding its charm—a pair of Ostrich Egg Goblets with griffin stems and a set of Tree Frog Bowls embellished with Quartz. These artifacts have endured the passage of time, bearing the marks of age while witnessing generations of a family's history. These four items held a pride of place in a grandmother's formal living space where they silently weathered the years, bearing marks of unintentional neglect—dislodged pieces hastily reattached, a gentle patina settling upon them, telling tales of age and use.

Tree Frog Bowl (1/2), before treatment detail of detached crystals and eye

Ray, the custodian of these treasures, recalls them in his grandmother's living room as far back as he can remember. He stumbled upon them while aiding his mother's relocation, who had packed them up after his grandmother's passing. Ray researched the engraved signatures etched into these artifacts, and as he unraveled their rarity, he embarked on a quest for conservation.

Tree Frog Bowl (2/2), before treatment detail of detached crystals

Enter The Conservation Center and Rob Kleeman, Senior Conservator of Furniture. First, the condition of all four objects was carefully documented at The Center. The silver-plated elements of both goblets were significantly tarnished, with a loss of 80% to 90% of the silver surface. The ostrich egg components of the goblets varied visibly in coloration and hue throughout. Meanwhile, the Tree Frog bowls, crafted with delicate quartz crystals and silver-plated brass, bore the scars of time and mishandling. Crystals were either loose, detached, or missing altogether. There was polish residue on the surfaces of the metal and crystal, and the silver plating was moderately tarnished as well, with silver plating being thin or wholly gone in certain areas - an apparent result of over-polishing in the past.

The pieces overall were highly tarnished with silver-plating loss due to the tarnish, corrosion, and previous over-cleaning. The Ostrich eggs on the goblets were previously overcoated; this later addition had discolored the surface of the shells. The discolored coatings were removed from the shell to match each other more appropriately, and the loose and detached crystals were reattached using reversible conservation-grade adhesives. The missing elements were replaced with similar natural quartz crystals.

Yet, one challenge remained in the conservation process - addressing the loss of the silver plating. Rob shared how this obstacle was overcome: "Both the goblets and the frog bowls were originally made in a manner that did not allow for the separation of the constituent parts. Electroplating would require disassembling the objects, which was not an option. After cleaning to remove all added coatings, corrosion tarnish, and surface contaminants, the objects were treated using displacement plating, a process that is traditionally used on historic clock faces. The metal surface is hand "plated" using silver chloride in an aqueous solution. The completed pieces retain a patina appropriate to their age and use. The finished surfaces were sealed with the appropriate conservation materials and paste waxed."

Ray, the torchbearer of familial legacy, recalls the emotional journey intertwined with these artifacts. "My mother recently moved again, and we had kept the pieces safely stored away in the packaging we received them back from you. The highlight of seeing them back out in their full glory in my mom's new house made me feel like my grandmother was there and happy." Beyond their physical conservation, these artifacts transcend mere objects. They stand as poignant reminders of craftsmanship, family history, and the resilience of heritage against the erosion of time. Through the skilled hands of conservators and the appreciation of owners like Ray, they've been revived, offering a bridge between past and present.

Carissa Tonner