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3D Scanning and Printing
3D Scanning and Printing
Surface Dirt and dust was removed using dry cleaning methods such as soft brushes and a museum vacuum on low suction with a net guard covering the nozzle.
This was followed by wet cleaning the surface of the pediment with Tri-Ammonium Citrate 2% in distilled water as it was the most affective in removing the engrained dirt and did not affect the state of the oil gilding. Acetone was used to treat the water gilding.
Surface Dirt and dust was removed using dry cleaning methods such as soft brushes and a museum vacuum on low suction with a net guard covering the nozzle.
This was followed by wet cleaning the surface of the pediment with Tri-Ammonium Citrate 2% in distilled water as it was the most affective in removing the engrained dirt and did not affect the state of the oil gilding. Acetone was used to treat the water gilding.
Once the gesso had dried it was then sanded down to make it smooth, level and matched the original appearance of the corner
3D Scanning and Printing
During my MA year in Conservation of Cultural Heritage, I investigated how 3D printers could be used in the future of the conservation of gilt frames.
I carried out this investigation on a late 18th century Leggatt frame, produced in Cheapside, London by Leggatt Brothers, printsellers, publishers & dealers in works of art, picture frame manufacturers.
The frame was identified by a maker stamp on the back of the frame and although the stamp was not intact, I researched the words on the address that was left behind and managed to work out where and when the frame had from.
Original stamp on back of frame
Matching complete stamp
Damaged Areas
The Frame had several areas of damage, however for the purpose of the investigation only 4 were looked at more closely.
These four areas of damage had sustained loss of decoration, each area missing a different aspect of the decoration. These include:
- Ornate Corner piece
- Blooming Flower
-Floral Curl
- Mirrored Blooming Flower
Complete Ornate Corner
Damaged Ornate Corner
Complete Blooming Flower
Damaged Blooming Flower
Complete Floral Curl
Damaged Floral Curl
The left facing blooming flower was actually present no where on the frame, as the decoration was missing due to damage. In this case the blooming flower would need to be recreated from hand in traditional methods. However, with the availability of 3D scanning and printing it was a possibility that recreating this blooming flower would be easier and more effective.
Damaged Mirrored Blooming Flower
These four pieces of decoration were recreated using tradtional and non traditonal materials. These processes and materials can be found in the two boxes, containing more detail on that happened and what the results were from the experiments carried out.
Click on images for further information on the traditional and 3D printed materials during their testing phases
However, if you wish to see the full study, please click on the PDF ICON.
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