Title: George Lockhart’s Wonderful Performing Elephants

Artist: Published by Robert Arthur & Sons, 60 Kyle Street, Glasgow

Media: Black, yellow, red, and blue inks

Paper: Cream coloured wove paper

 

This project was previously assessed in the lab and awaited conservation treatment.

The poster had been torn and previously repaired with scotch tape, then later folded in half. It couldn't be unfolded without causing damage along the top half.  A thicker layer of gelatin was causing the paper to stick to itself on the upper center. Previous attempts at opening the poster had yielded areas of skinning and loss on opposite sides of the face of the print.

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• Solubility tests of different solvents were performed on inks and paper

• Dry cleaning with soft brushes, eraser crumbs and Staedler Mars eraser to remove surface dirt and dust​

• Light humidification for the release of the stuck area

• Removal of tape carrier and oxidized adhesive stains with solvents and vacuum table

• Washing on blotters

• Lining with Japanese paper and wheat starch paste, left to air dry

• Light humidification in humidity chamber and flattened between Hollytex, felts and Plexiglas

• Consolidation of lifted fragments with wheat starch paste

• Tear repairs and infills

• Retouching with pastel pencils and dry pigments

• Light humidification and flattening

• Rehousing inside paper folder

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