Client: Smith. Item: Japanese Embroidery with Cranes

Name/Title

Client: Smith. Item: Japanese Embroidery with Cranes

Conservation

Conservation Purpose

Damage Repair

Treatment

Acute Treatment

Disassemble

Date(s)

Jan 25, 2019

Treatment Notes

Acrylic cover removed from object.

Acute Treatment

Hepa-Vacuum

Date(s)

Jan 28, 2019

Treatment Notes

Brush vacuuming under screen on front

Acute Treatment

Disassemble

Date(s)

Jan 29, 2019

Treatment Notes

Turned embroidery onto front on table lined with two layers ethafoam and one layer tyvek, to facilitate removal from strainer. Running stitch holding lining and crepeline cut. Yellow silk lining cut in straight lines along stapled edge. Once revealed, a white synthetic batting fabric is visible between silk lining and strainer. This is stapled to the strainer so these areas cut around with scalpel also. To free corners, running stitch holding batting, lining, embroidery, and crepeline together cut, only in corners. Lining opened to allow removal of strainer. Five people held sandwich of ethafoam/tyvek/cardboard to flip it face up.Batting cut away and running stitch holding package together cut from the back to remove batting, but left in place to hold crepeline. Cut and positioned new lining fabric.

Acute Treatment

Testing

Date(s)

Jan 29, 2019

Treatment Notes

Klucel G 3% solution made in isopropyl. Testing on silk scraps showed this evaporated fastest and left no mark.

Acute Treatment

Disassemble

Date(s)

Jan 29, 2019

Treatment Notes

Hollytex strips laid on face. Stitches at bottom edge holding crepeline in place removed for next day removal in this area for consolidation.

Acute Treatment

Consolidation

Date(s)

Jan 30, 2019 - Feb 13, 2019

Treatment Notes

Threads consolidated with a 1:1 solution of methylcellulose in water and Klucel G in isopropyl alcohol

Acute Treatment

Testing

Date(s)

Feb 26, 2019 - Mar 8, 2019

Treatment Notes

Preparation of 4:1 Agarose gel with 1% Triton-X, vulpex, and tergitol, applied in 3 areas as tests for cleaning tide lines on silk. Continuation of agarose gels used for cleaning (2% triton-x in 4% solution). Gels removed and replaced with new gels of the same formula, with no signs of change. 6% agarose rigid gel with 2% surfactant (Triton-X 100) applied on tidelines. Left 1 hours with soft weight and 7 hours without weight. Prepared 5.5% agarose gel with 2% Triton-X 100. Applied gels to tidelines.

Acute Treatment

Surface Clean

Date(s)

Mar 21, 2019 - Mar 22, 2019

Treatment Notes

Applied 5.75% agarose gel with 2% triton x-100 and 1% Turgitol on the tidelines. The gels have been in contact with the object for 3 hours and then they were removed. A sandwich of silicone release paper, blotting paper, and another layer silicone release paper was positioned under and on top of embroider with a soft weight.

Acute Treatment

Consolidation

Date(s)

Mar 26, 2019

Treatment Notes

Consolidated with 1:1 solution of methylcellulose and Klucel G in isopropyl alcohol.

Acute Treatment

Surface Clean

Date(s)

Mar 27, 2019

Treatment Notes

Removing tidelines - using sandwich of silicone release, blotting paper, and pellon. One sandwich on top and one underneath. A light weight was positioned to allow an even and consistent pressure. Demineralized water was used to remove tideline.

Acute Treatment

Consolidation

Date(s)

Apr 1, 2019 - Apr 8, 2019

Treatment Notes

Consolidation with 1:1 methalcellulose and Klucel G in isopropyl alcohol. Additional cleaning of tidelines interspersed. Consolidated threads in moon/cloud region.

Acute Treatment

Hepa-Vacuum

Date(s)

Apr 8, 2019

Treatment Notes

Vacuumed original crepeline and replace on top of textile.

Acute Treatment

Hand Sewn Repairs

Date(s)

Apr 8, 2019 - May 6, 2019

Treatment Notes

Stitched in backward-looping stitch through all layers: crepeline, textile, silk lining, and cotton muslin lining. Sewed down silk and crepeline to muslin cloth and sewed cranes (needle and thread breaking silk fibers). Decided to elevate textile above table to reduce stress. Used methylcellulose to consolidate background as well as spray fixative.

Acute Treatment

Consolidation

Date(s)

May 6, 2019

Acute Treatment

General Cleaning

Date(s)

May 7, 2019 - May 9, 2019

Treatment Notes

Cleaned exterior of frame using 91% isopropyl alcohol applied with cotton swabs

Acute Treatment

General Cleaning

Date(s)

May 13, 2019

Treatment Notes

Removing black paint around the interior of the frame using acetone swabs. Dampen cotton with acetone and apply to surface, wrapped in cling film for 30 min to soften the binding agent.

Acute Treatment

Testing

Date(s)

May 13, 2019 - May 20, 2019

Treatment Notes

Gel solvents were tested and found ineffective. Tested NMP to remove paint layer. Also tested using Xylene and found an effect after 2 hours. Returned to using acetone on cotton and NMP.

Acute Treatment

General Cleaning

Date(s)

May 21, 2019 - May 22, 2019

Treatment Notes

Mechanically removed paint using porcupine quill.

Acute Treatment

General Cleaning

Date(s)

Jul 1, 2019

Treatment Notes

Removed paint: brushing on NMP, covering with plastic wrap, leave to soak for 30 min. Remove with fine 3M foam sandpaper. Cleaned residue with acetone.

Acute Treatment

General Cleaning

Date(s)

Sep 18, 2019 - Sep 19, 2019

Treatment Notes

Sanded black paint and gilt surfaces smooth.

Acute Treatment

Gilding

Date(s)

Oct 10, 2019 - Oct 29, 2019

Treatment Notes

Applied gold leaf to frame, filled voids, and burnished.

Acute Treatment

Retouching

Date(s)

Nov 20, 2019

Treatment Notes

Painted frame fillet black. Masked edge with post-it note. Mixed 2 drops flow improver with mars black golden acrylic (¼ tsp). Brushed on frame. Removed mask, cleaned up edge with slightly damp brush. Completed painting fillet.

Acute Treatment

Testing

Date(s)

Nov 15, 2019

Treatment Notes

Varnish testing and preparation on metal leave. Varnish: 20 mL. Gamblin Galdehyde Resin, 10 mL Isopropyl Alcohol 90%, 2.5 mL fumed silica.

Acute Treatment

Varnish / Removal

Date(s)

Nov 15, 2019

Treatment Notes

Varnished metal leaf.

Acute Treatment

Testing

Date(s)

Nov 20, 2019

Treatment Notes

Tested varnish for black acrylic on fillet: Golden UVLS varnish, matte & satin. Used satin. 2 coats for most even coverage.

Acute Treatment

Varnish / Removal

Date(s)

Nov 20, 2019

Treatment Notes

Varnished fillet

Acute Treatment

Display Mount

Date(s)

Nov 22, 2019

Treatment Notes

Cut 2 B-flute blue boards, one to mount silk on, one to go behind silk. 3/16" smaller than dims of rabbat: 51 ⅞" x 25 15/16" Trimmed crepeline slightly outside edge of silk. Lint rolled, then vacuumed cotton lining. Mounted silk to blue board with Remay Tape.

Acute Treatment

Conditioner/Moisturizer

Date(s)

Nov 22, 2019

Treatment Notes

Conditioned, prayed with cyclomethicone/silk amines/lanolin