Restoration Process: The carved wooden structure is coated with layers of rabbit skin or partchment size mized with fine chalk powder (gesso). Finely ground coloured clays (also in a size binder) are then applied and gold leaf is "layed on" using water as the adhesive. Areas may then be burnished to a high shine or left matte.
Changes in relative humidity cause expansion and contraction of the timber groundwork leading to areas of gesso becoming detached from the surface. Structual repairs to joints are effected using animal glue. Areas of woodworm damage are consolodated to give structural strength. Loose and lifting gesso areas are relayed and missing areas are infilled with new gesso. Clay colours are matched , infills are regilded and tonded to harmonise with the origenal. The whole chair is then lightly cleaned, care being taken to preserve the origenal gilding.
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