When paint is hundreds of years old, it may be in need of conservation. There are a variety of reasons for conserving paint finishes:
- Removing later varnishes without removing the original paint,
- Removing overpainting covering beautiful original paint,
- Infilling missing designs, that may have been damaged or lost adhesion and flaked off
- Fire or smoke damage
- Move damages
Some examples of oil paint conservation projects are shown below:
George II Clock with shattered Eglomaise painted and gilt glass panes below the broken swan’s neck pediment (before)
Eglomaise painted glass showing loss of adhesion and physical damages (before)
George II Clock with Eglomaise painted and gilt glass panes replicated (After)
George II Clock with Eglomaise painted and gilt glass panes (after)
George II Clock with shattered Eglomaise painted and gilt glass panes under restoration and conservation
The severe damage to the original glass was unacceptable to the owner, who elected to restore to original condition. After work was completed by Olek craftsman the original owner was throughly satisfied with the outcome.
Pennsylvania German settlers had a long history of paint decoration of furniture, to apply culturally important decoration, and often to enhance inexpensive use of woods, to resemble more costly imported woods not available in rural areas.
Chest with milk paint decoration produced in Pennsylvania suffering from physical damages and long usage
Top of chest shown restored, leaving significant distress intact, not over-restored
Front of Pennsylvania Dutch chest after conservation of milk paint finish
Bracket foot showing considerable distress (before)
Pennsylvania Dutch chest after conservation of milk paint finish
Before
After
Before condition poor, canvas weak, paint extensively crazed, overvarnish oxidized, ripped
Before condition poor, canvas weak, paint extensively crazed, over varnish oxidized, ripped (close up view)
Painting during cleaning, prior to repair
Oil painting, cleaning almost completed
Painting during filling of tears
Conservation complete, new varnish applied
