John Rogers Plaster Sculpture
Owner: Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
Accession #: 2016.0019.003
Artist/Maker: John Rogers
Object Date: 1884
Materials: Plaster, ferrous alloy armature, zinc and lithopone paint
Distinguishing Marks:
Carved into base of sculpture, beneath front pew: JOGN ROGERS / NEW YORK / 1883
Carved into base of sculpture, front facing edge: NEIGHBORING PEWS
Carved into back of sculpture, second pew: PATENTED JAN. 29 / 1884
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Description: The object is a painted plaster sculpture by John Rogers (1829-1904). The sculpture was cast in plaster with metal armature on the interior for structural support. The paint layer is a putty-brown color with components of zinc and lithopone. The date of application is unknown.
Condition: The sculpture is in overall fair condition. The body of the sculpture appears to be structurally sound with variable losses to the plaster, exposing the metal armature. The paint on the surface of the sculpture exhibits areas of active flaking with 25% loss to the entire surface.
Treatment
Note: This project was initiated by Abigail Rodriguez as a first-year documentation project in Spring 2020. It carried into Fall 2020 as a group project for second-year objects majors: Rodriguez, Allison Kelley and Nylah Byrd, who began treatment with documentation, solubility testing and surface cleaning. This treatment was continued in Fall 2021 by Meghan Abercrombie (MA), Olav Bjornerud (OB), Elle Friedberg (EF), Alyssa Rina (AR), and Katie Shulman (KS), who focused on consolidation and additional surface cleaning.
Treatment (complete)
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Completed examination and documentation, post-cleaning/pre-consolidation.
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Areas of flaking paint were consolidated with 15% Paraloid B-72 using a fine brush.
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After the acetone fully evaporated, heat was applied using either a tacking iron or a Leister® Labor S hot air tool to selectively reactivate the adhesive and relax paint flakes.
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Following consolidation, surface cleaning was carried out locally in areas where cleaning could not be undertaken initially due to instability in the paint layers.
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Occasionally consolidation and cleaning were undertaken in tandem.
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Consolidated areas were cleaned by swabbing with a 1% solution of citric acid prepared in pH 8.5 adjusted water. The cleaning solution was cleared with pH 8.5 adjusted water.
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Completed after treatment documentation.
