The Conservation Study of a Funeral Coat of Arms (huvudbaner) with a Focus on Cleaning and Consolidation

Abstract

The cleaning and consolidation of egg white tempera were evaluated to help conserve a polychrome sculpture, the funeral coat of arms of Pehr Stålhammar, dated 1701. This coat of arms was a wooden structure of carved pine and lime wood, grounded with a chalk and rabbit skin glue ground layer, and polychromed with egg white tempera in combination with smalt blue, lamp black, and red pigments. Due to the difficulties of preserving the physical properties of egg white tempera, it was necessary to evaluate the consolidation effects in terms of color, gloss, and cohesion. Four consolidants were chosen: JunFunori, sturgeon glue, Aquazol 200, and Lascaux’s Medium for Consolidation. Among these, Aquazol 200 and JunFunori performed more efficiently. Another type of difficulty occurred during the conservation cleaning treatment process, especially with the blue paint, which is more fragile and has hydrophobic qualities. To conceive a safe cleaning method, various cleaning techniques and materials were tested with a microscope, scanning electron microscopy, and an artificial aging chamber. The investigation showed that the dry cleaning method and use of hydrogels could work together and target different tasks.