BINOCULARS |
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These binoculars were recovered from Beauvoir in February of 2006 by a team of University of Delaware and Wintethur staff members.
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The brass, a copper alloy, suffered from copper chloride corrosion (green/grey colored) from prolonged exposure to salt water and uncontrolled environmental conditions following the storm. The left side has been stabilized while the right has been left untreated.
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Careful mechanical cleaning reduced the corrosion product while avoiding the friable black paint. |
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The leather, hygroscopic by nature, suffered severe dimensional distortions causing detachment which threatened loss. After tears were mended to prevent further breakage, the losses were filled using several layers of Japanese tissue molded to the original texture. |
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The fills have been toned to minimize their appearance leaving the binoculars stable for display and limited handling. |
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FETISH |
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This African fetish was on loan to the Ohr-O’Keef Museum in Biloxi when Hurricane Katrina hit (left). It was stored in a plastic box which filled with water from the storm surge and led to severe mold through out as well as the degradation of the original skin strips which held many of the objects in place (right). For these reasons the fetish was considered a total loss. |
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The mold was first mechanically reduced with a soft brush and vacuum and then ethanol was applied over the surface to kill any remaining spores. Without proper stabilization, the mold could potentially resurface in the future. |
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Once stabilized, strips of Japanese tissue were laminated together and painted to mimic the original skin. Using previous photographs for scale, all parts of the fetish were reassembled with the proper number of shells and the appropriate length. |
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VENEER FILLS |
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With exposure to water, the wood of this card table expanded differently than the finished veneer. As a result, many areas of veneer popped off leaving losses that required fills for aesthetic and structural reasons. |
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The wood was identified as mahogany so a veneer of mahogany with a similar grain pattern was chosen for the fill. The veneer was adhered with hide glue and clamped overnight with a jig. Residual gaps were filled using and epoxy putty. With a little inpainting and shellac, the loss is now stabilized and aesthetically acceptable. |
