Ivory
Frame Restoration
It would be a shame not to try and restore these
vintage pieces. They are
lovely and unusual, with portraits, scenes and stories
within the backing.By DiAnna Tindell
It is amazing to find an ivory framed portrait from the 19th-century in fair
to good condition, considering how fragile they appear to be. Most have a thin
convex oval or curved glass within an intricate brass trim. The presence of
newspaper backing and metal clasps on the back can be in far worse condition, to
include tears, stains and missing print.
Some may have an entirely different
newspaper printing in some spots as patch attempts. The newspaper text may
include dates and are in many languages, like German and Latin. Some text may
actually refer to the portrait within, but often generally reads about wool and
wares, the market and daily news that may not make a lot of sense.
Ivory is
very fragile and great care should be taken in handling. The total care of ivory
in general can be obtained in books and through research on the Internet. Ivory
should not be immersed in water. It is in layers and when it is soaked in water
will swell and for a very brief time will appear to be in better condition. All
the tiny cracks will close and even some larger ones.
But alas, when the
ivory begins to dry out, there is tremendous damage. It should not be subjected
to extreme heat or moved from a rather humid climate into a dry, hot one.
The
restoration of these lovely ivory frames may involve many different approaches.
Of course, much will depend on the client and his overall goal for the future
enjoyment of the collectible.
First, the frame will likely need some cleaning
and reconditioning. One method would include the use of a micro-crystalline wax
polish. This can be applied sparingly with a soft cloth and buffed gently. It
will remove dirt, grime and oils without harming the ivory, glass, wood, brass
trim and other applied enhancements.
This wax dried instantly to seal and
protect the surface to resist liquid spills, harmful environmental agents and
oily finger marks, etc. This refined wax is a blended formula used by museums
internationally to revive and protect valuable objects. It freshens colors and
imparts a soft sheen.
Replacement of some missing parts may be the next
consideration in restoration. Keep in mind that many parts can be salvaged from
other like frames or similar objects. Those parts can be cut, shaped and sanded
for a substitute inlaid panel.
Unfortunately, many ivory frames have had
amateur attempts to replace ivory wafer sections with various materials such as
charcoal penciled drawn white paper, painted wood pieces, mother of pearl
pieces, and just about anything that comes close to hiding but simulating a
missing portion.
Often, the existing original applied ivory wafer sections
are very loose. This can be due to years of exposure to the elements that
eventually weakens their adhesion to the wooden frame.
The correction to
those areas must be handled very gently. If the pressure to remove or re-apply
an ivory thin wafer isn't done properly, it can often cause cracking, splitting
and breaking.
This restoration procedure must be patiently conducted to
insure gentle ease and overall, even pressure. If a small area is missing, there
are wonderful dental and solar products with flexibility to be mixed to just the
right colour and texture.
These powder products are then painted on with a
special brush loaded with a catalyst liquid hardener. This process allows the
fill to be added with precision and it adheres directly into the missing
section(s).
Within a few minutes after curing, the area can be gently sanded,
design cuts placed within and outline areas painted. If there is a larger
section with lots of design in relief, it might be more exacting if a mold is
made of a like area and cast to copy for replacement.
If the client prefers
to restore the newspaper backing, it might be best to refer that portion to a
paper conservationist. They would perhaps have some salvage in their inventory
of similar print and can best handle any considerations for improvements.
If
the portrait has damage, it may be advisable to consult a conservationist in
conjunction with a restoration specialist.
Should the oval convex glass need
restoration or replacement, the damage can either be corrected with glass
restoration methods or replacement alternatives. Many glass companies offer this
type of specialty glass and it can just be as simple as placing an order.
The
hardware that may include an intricate brass rim trim holding the glass in place
and the flexible clasps on the back would involve two or more resources to
restore. Again, salvage from cannibalizing a similar piece would be the best
offering, but many parts can be made with restoration products as synthetic
matching parts. Many of the products used can actually be stronger than the
original brass and look just the same.
DiAnna Tindell is a master
restoration specialist and founder of Tindell's Restoration Schools in
Nashville, TN. Inquiry for conservation or restoration resources and more
details about this article, please visit the website: www.TindellsRestorationSchools.com. Send mail to: P.O. Box 292633, Nashville, TN
37229-2633.
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