Enamel Kettle
Artist/Maker: Chinese
Object Date: 18th century
Materials: Copper with painted enamel decoration
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Description: The object is an 18th century globular Chinese kettle with a flat lid with cast copper finial riveted in place. Both the kettle and lid are copper with painted enamel decoration. The handle of the kettle is a cast copper alloy that is wrapped in a flat natural fiber (possibly bamboo) in a decorative geometric pattern. X-radiography shows the copper support was fashioned in two parts (an upper and lower half); the method of joining was not discerned.
Condition: Overall the kettle is structurally stable and in fair aesthetic condition. On the kettle there are several old damages to the enamel that have been restored previously. These prior restorations are in poor condition and do not match the surface of the enamel by color or
texture.
Treatment
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Removed disfiguring overpaint and prior restorations.
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Surface cleaned to remove accumulated dust in recessed areas and grime.
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Filled areas of loss using Primal WS-24 tinted with Golden Fluid Acrylics (titanium white, raw umber and cobalt blue). The fills were built up in layers allowing the Primal to flow into all areas of loss.
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Inpainted fills using Golden Acrylics (titanium white, bone black, phthalo green yellow shade, burnt sienna, raw umber, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, red oxide, quinacridone crimson, ultramarine blue and anthraquinone blue).
DURING TREATMENT / WORKING PHOTOS
TREATMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
