Cartonnage fragment

Object before treatment

Object after treatment

Condition before treatment

The object was highly unstable and misshapen with a hinged edge on the one side. The painted layers and substrate were delaminating, and accretions were obscuring the surface decoration. It cannot could not have been safely stored, handled or displayed.

Treatment

Surface cleaning was done with a soft sable brush which helped to mobilise some debris and remove loose elements. The most effective cleaning which really brought the vibrancy of the colours back was done with cubes of smoke sponge (vulcanized natural rubber) which were rolled in circular motion lightly on the surface.
Cleaning on the rear gesso layer was not completed as the surface is too friable for anything other than soft brush sweeps. Some debris was removed carefully from the straw material using a pin and vacuum tweezers.
At the same time with cleaning, consolidation was done to minimise pigment losses. The areas to be cleaned were tested for mobility with a bamboo skewer and were consolidated with 0.5% and 1% Klucel G (synthetic cellulose polymer) in ethanol. The red pigment was the most unstable and has been heavily consolidated to prevent the ongoing losses.
Multiple layers of 0.5% Klucel G in ethanol were applied around the edges of the fragment to reduce losses of the straw underlayer and the pigments. 1% Klucel G w/v in ethanol was used to consolidate areas of friable straw material until the areas were stable. The stability of the areas consolidated were tested with a bamboo skewer before each application of consolidant.
Japanese tissue paper backings tinted with watercolours and impregnated with 5% Klucel G in ethanol were inserted in areas were the was mobility in the layers using a Melinex (polyester film) spatula.The object came with a hinged piece which was de-attached during treatment. A backing of Japanese tissue, tinted and impregnated with 5% Klucel G in ethanol was used to secure it in place. Similarly, Japanese tissue backings were used on other areas of the gesso layer to ensure stability.
Humidification: The fragment was placed in a purpose made humidity chamber which would assist with its reshaping for reconstruction. The object became soft when it stayed in the chamber for 3:30 hours in a relative humidity of 80%. It was then removed from the chamber and was slightly reshaped using padded clamps and magnets inserted in thin Plastazote pockets.
Packaging: a purpose made box was made out of Blue board (archival acid-free matte board) with a separate lid. The box was lined with a thin layer of Plastazote (non-absorbant polyethylene closed-cell foam). A padded bed filled with polyester wadding and covered in Tyvek (polyethylene non-woven sheet) was shaped and sewn on a Plastazote sheet and was inserted in the box.

Condition after treatment

A good level of cleaning was achieved on the painted surface and the colours appear more vibrant. The object appears stable but there could still be minor losses of straw matearial. The paint, gesso and papyrus layers have been sufficiently consolidated and are stable. The new storage container makes access to the object easier and safer.