Konstteknisk undersökning av en karaff av äggskal från Nääs slott MED FOKUS PÅ KONSERVERING OCH KOMPLETTERING AV ÄGGSKAL

Abstract

This thesis is an art technical study of a decanter made from ostrich eggshell and brass, from Nääs castle outside of Floda in Västergötland, Sweden. The ocular examination of the object focuses on materials, technical details, construction and condition. XRF-analysis of the metal components is carried out to reveal further details about manufacturing techniques and original appearance. The object is then put into its art historical context, which involves the history of Nääs castle, the history and tradition surrounding ostrich egg objects, stylistic features of the renaissance and neo-renaissance, and 19th century industrialism, art collecting, internationalism and nationalism. The conclusion is that the eggshell decanter has most likely been industrially manufactured in Germany sometime in the late 19th century. Aspects concerning preventive and active conservation of eggshell are outlined. Methods for making infills on eggshell is currently lacking from the conservation literature, and therefore gap-filling methods are sought after in conservation literature concerning the conservation and gap-filling of osteological materials. Two methods – infills with glass microballoons, and infills with pulped Japanese tissue paper – are tried on eggshell. The conclusions are that infills made from glass microballoons work very well on eggshell, whereas infills made from pulped Japanese tissue paper are not satisfactory in this particular context. Lastly, a treatment proposal, based on the results from the study, concerning the ostrich eggshell decanter from Nääs castle, is presented.