CONSERVATION OF THE DARNAULT MIRROR: AN ACRYLIC EMULSION COMPENSATION SYSTEMCYNTHIA MOYER, & GORDON HANLON
ABSTRACT—A 1751 French boiserie mirror, which retained approximately 30% of its original gilding, was treated at the J. Paul Getty Museum. In the initial phase of the treatment, the mirror frame was thoroughly analyzed, its condition was documented, and testing of possible cleaning and compensation methods was begun. Ultimately, the conservators were not pleased with the results of that work, which was presented in a paper at the AIC Annual Meeting in 1994. Re-evaluation of the treatment led to the use of new materials for a barrier coat and for compensation of the losses in the gilding, including acrylic emulsion medium, mica pigments, and gold leaf. In creating the alternative system, the conservators and curators aimed to maintain the original goals of the project, including the proper interpretation and display of the mirror in the galleries as well as preservation of the physical integrity of the object. Methods for using nontraditional materials in a manner complementary to the original materials were devised with the hope that they could be applied to other objects needing the same treatment. This paper gives a brief overview of the previous work and presents the revised compensation treatment to the Darnault mirror frame. [Spanish Abstract] [French Abstract]
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