Academic thesis

Vanadis Karhof: The Sculpture of St. Antonius of Padua of the St. Michael’s church in Weißenborn-Lüderode (Thuringia). Conservation treatment on the base of an existing concept and development of a concept for a further restoration. Back
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Abstract: This diploma thesis describes and documents the conservation treatment of a polychrome wooden sculpture, which presents the figure of St. Antonius of Padua. The sculpture is dated to the second part of the 19th century. The conservation treatment focused on the consolidation and cleaning of the surface paint layer.

Due to former studies we gained information concerning technological examination of the sculpture and the research of the architectural history of St. Michael’s church. Based on these results a concept for a conservation was developed, which was specified and described in more detail within this thesis.

The matt appearance of the paint layer required special types of adhesives as well as specific consolidation methods to avoid gloss, borders and change of colour.
Since the damage mainly consists of minuscule areas of cleavage in the paint layer, which which is very sensitive even to low air currents, an ultrasonic nebulizer was used for the consolidation of the paint layer. The employment of adhesives in the form of aerosols is an advantage for matt surfaces, since it achieves exact doses and therefore dispenses well within the paint layer.
In some areas of the paint layer, where there had been stiff, thick layered cleavage, the consolidant was applied with a brush and the flakes could been flattened with a heating spatula.

After the consolidation of the paint layer the cleaning was done mostly carried out using a dry latex sponge. Heavily soiled parts were cleaned with either de-mineralised water or a mixture of toluol and isopropanol (50 : 50).

Based on the results of this thesis further investigation in the employment of ultra sonic nebulizers is wished to be prompted, because some important aspects especially their impact of the penetration depth of the consolidant used, could not be examined.

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Details:
  • academic institution: HAWK Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/ Holzminden/Göttingen
  • kind of theses:  Diplomarbeit
  • main Tutor:  Prof. Jirina Lehmann
  • assistant Tutor:  Dr. Charlotte Klack-Eitzen
  • date:  2002
  • Language:  German
  • pages:  60
  • pictures:  97
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