This frame had a missing corner piece - a fairly straightforward repair. My first step is usually to do an overall survey of the object, and this was in overall good condition - the corner was probably just due to a bump or a bad moving experience.
While selecting an intact portion to make my mold I noticed some other small areas were missing. Since these damages had apparently happened long ago, the accumulated dirt, grim and dust (or as we more fashionably call it - patina) made the losses inconspicuous. But, in for a penny, in for a pound, I elected to replace these areas as well.
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| White areas of gesso show where replacements were needed |
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| Replacement detail |
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| More replacement detail |
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| Original missing corner replaced and gessoed |
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| Gilded |
Usual steps were followed - mold-making, casting, fitting,
gilding and toning. I get nervous about having to work on a frame with the art
still installed - but in this case, the client didn't want the backings removed
as they contained part of the work's history. This means hiding the project in
a safe place between working sessions (which usually means forgetting about
it), and having to keep the painting covered while frame restoration is in
progress.
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| Finally done and packed for return. |
