Garden urn

Object/Artifact

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Garden urn

Entry/Object ID

MP.2004.11 a-b

Description

One of a pair of covered terra cotta garden urns with dragon handles: foliate finial on cover (b) terminates at wider cap on which are seven molded stems; cover terminates into octagonal base (a) upon which rests the open mouths of two symmetrically opposing dragons, their front legs resting on octagonal lip of urn mouth, their wings articulated and their bottoms morphing into scrolls near mddle of urn; under urn mouths octagon points supported by molded foliage; eight arched reserves underneath, at point where urn is most narrow; foliage molding set atop a second set of octagonal reserves, at urn's widest point; these reserves decorated with three-leaf branches; a third level of octagonal reserves underneath; these tapering inward and also containing foliate molding; urn tapering into base with bulbous ring under which neck extends outward, echoing the octagonal shapes above; circular acanthus relief upon octagonal base.

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Gossin Freres

Date made

1856 - 1970

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

51-1/2 in

Width

27 in

Depth

22 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 51 1/2 x 27 x 22 in. (130.8 x 68.6 x 55.9 cm)

Material

Terra cotta, Paint

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Overall cracking and loss of sand paint.

Notes

Remarks: Treatment Report: Vacuumed all surfaces inside and out with the help of a soft natural bristle brush taking care to avoid loose flaking paint. Conversations with the curator led to the decision to not remove the sand paint considering its historical relationship to the aesthetic of the site. However consolidation of the surface to preserve every flake (a costly proposition) was not imperative. Injected cracks, loose handles and any other loose element with 20% B-72 acrylic resin in acetone. Separated the loose vessel from the base. The secured vessel was connected with a corroded steel pipe plastered into place between them. This would be more of a problem if they were intended to be displayed outdoors where the iron would continue to rust. The separated vessel was rejoined by drilling both surfaces to accept three 2"x 1/4" stainless steel pins. The surfaces were joined with epoxy and losses were filled with Edison Coatings restoration mortar. The loose dragon handles and separated parts from the handles were reattached with West system epoxy resin and losses filled with the restoration mortar. During relocation of one vessel from an exhibition, the tail of one handle was broken off. The handle was reattached with epoxy resin and the cracked colored with Liquitex colors to blend. The curator indicated that it might be preferable to remove all of the paint. It could actually be interesting to see the vessels newly sandpainted and a good case could be made to accomplish that. The paint removal would however be quite time-consuming and expensive.

Relationships

Related Entries

Notes

MP.2004.10 a-b - Garden urn - One of pair

General Notes

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Montgomery Complex, Coach House - Basement

Note Type

Department

Note

Curatorial