Konservering av förgyllning- syntetiska polymerer som alternativ

Abstract

During the last decades synthetic polymers has been introduced as an alternative to traditional materials in conservation of gilding surfaces. The aim of this study is to investigate where and when it is appropriate to use synthetic polymers and when traditional materials are preferred. The synthetic polymers which have been investigated as alternatives are polyvinyl alcohol for animal glue in burnished gold, acrylic dispersion for linseed oil in oil gilding, and acrylic gold paint for bronzing powder in shellac. Reference materials of the traditional materials were made. Solubility and mechanical strength tests were carried out. The solutions tested were; water, ethanol, acetone, ammoniac and white spirit. The mechanical tests were made with; finger, eraser and scalpel. From the results of the tests recommendations for cleaning could be presented. Light photomicrographs of both synthetic and traditional gilding types were created as an aid to visually compare them. A patch of burnished gold with polyvinyl alcohol as the medium was made upon the traditional burnished gold surface. The purpose was to see if it could discern the difference between traditional gilding and the synthetic alternative with the aid of the optical microscope. Recommendation for cleaning, consolidation and retouching could be presented. The recommendations are built on the work of two experts in gilding conservation; Malcolm Green at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Jonathan Thornton at Buffalo State University in the US. They have two very different attitudes and approaches to conservation of gilded surfaces. Their differing schools of thought are weighed against Munoz Vinas´s theories of conservation ethics of today.