We're Back

 After a few years of pandemic and personal changes, I will be active on here again. Maybe not immediately, but working on it. Stay tuned.

This Mirror Had Visitors

As found

Oh, the perils of purchasing something on-line!

This small mirror was inexpensive (yes, you get what you pay for) but the size and look were appealing, particularly since although the mirror plate was likely not original, they followed the convention of beveled edge, separate plates. 

 Upon pickup, the mirror required a bit of examination. Still unclear to me is whether the frame is original, or an adaptation/alteration. There was evidence of insect infestation (although not current). Particular enticing areas were the small blocks holding the mirror plate, which, as was usual, were adhered with an animal glue. Very tempting to insects. In addition, some of the built up gesso suffered the same fate, again, due to the animal glue component. 

Since there is no evidence of fresh or recent frass (a classier name for insect you-know-what) I'm not concerned about continued damage. Treatment will begin with wood consolidant, then rebuilding of the most damaged areas. 

 The surface has an old finish. I'm thinking that a cleaning/waxing will be in keeping. The liner, once repaired will be re-gilded. 

Approximately 39" x 14" Purchase date 8/10/19

Frame Fix-Up

Back in the day, when you went to a picture framer they didn't always just cut and join pre-finished moldings. I really like the frames that truly were "custom" where the framer started with wood and created a surface treatment.

As purchased. Bottom and left rails with no finish remaining, deterioration on remander.

I purchased this painting a few years back. The frame's finish had suffered greatly. Two legs of the frame were down to bare wood. Possibly it had gotten damp and the gesso deteriorated, or perhaps someone started trying to (misguidedly) return the frame to "natural wood" and gave up.

Applying gesso

After a cleanup, new gesso was applied. A painted finish was built up with applications of various colors, along with some gentle distressing, to wind up with an "interesting grey".

Building the paint layers

There is no finish or additional work over the paint. When the painting is sent out for cleaning and re-varnishing I may need to adjust the frame color. Finishing will take place at that time.

 

Finished (sort of)

Hanging

Another One Finally Checked on the "To-Do" List

 

These little mirrors are smaller versions of the typical early 19th century "cottage" mirrors with their split balusters, corner blocks and a panel at the top. The antique version would hold a reverse glass painting. These mini versions usually had a print of a "Colonial" scene, and judging by the photos or prints they appear to be from the 1020s or so.

They show up fairly frequently, and I don't know why I bought this one. Probably just felt bad for it. I spruced up the frame and did a reverse glass painting. It now looks more like a period mirror.

This wasn't a particularly difficult or time consuming project, so why was it on the wall of my workshop, staring reproachfully at me for a few years before I finally tackled it? As they say, "the cobbler's children....".

Anyway, another of the pandemic era projects is finally done!

Finished. Approximately 13" high.

In its original state

Christmas Bells are Ringing

 

Well, we've come to the end of the year. And what a year.

I've been away from this blog for various reasons (none of them good). 

In addition to the pandemic, we sold the house in Maine, and my partner of 40-plus years passed away in November after a long decline.

Now that things are settling out, I will be posting again, trying to get caught up with what has gone on through 2020 and keeping up with 2021.

I hope 2021 will be better for all of us!

Don't Sit Under This Apple Tree

Some of the houses on my street are located in what was an apple orchard back in the old days. Just about all the really old apple trees are now gone. This is what remains of what was the last one in the back yard. I feel that since they survived so long there is something undignified about hauling away their remains. Plus, they can supply sketching and painting subjects.

I took a number of photographs, and took my sketchpad out for some quick studies.

Since our lovely Spring weather turned, as is typical of New England, the ensuing watercolors were done indoors.

A Mirror! Aristocracy! The Theater!

Sometimes a project reveals information that, while not important or valuable, does at least liven up the day a bit.

When you need to work on an old frame or mirror, it is nice when you need to do a small repair without opening everything up. For bigger projects, you need to dismantle. This is primarily for ease of work (and minimizing risk too art or mirror plate. Sometimes you want to learn more, and need to look for clues inside.

This over-mantel mirror is in sorry condition. Probably English, 18th century, as soon as I saw it I knew the mirror was replaced (if the mirror was period). Mirrors of this type would not have a single panel of mirror plate; the custom was for three panels, usually with slightly beveled edges, and no wooden dividers between them. This is usually attributed to taxation on large panes of glass or mirror; probably just as likely to the logistics and expense of getting a single large piece. 

Arrival in my elegantly appointed workshop

 In any event, as soon as I lifted it I knew the glass was replaced, as this was heavy plate glass. While this type of glass is of good quality, it is not a good replacement for antique mirrors that were made for thinner, lighter glass. Often times the frames cannot support the weight, and hanging hardware pulls out of the old, dry wood and the mirror comes crashing down. This one had eye-hooks and wire spanning the frame; NOT the way you want to hang a mirror like this. A miracle it survived at all.

First step was to remove the back panels. 

Museum accession label

Pasted on the backboard is a Cincinnati Art Museum accession label from 1945, showing source as the Marquise de Talleyrand.

The nails holding the panels were modern wire nails, as would be expected with replaced mirror plate. And, as was common with framers years back, cardboard was used between the mirror and dust panels.

Cardboard a sign that this mirror has been worked on since the 18th century

When I turned them over - a theatrical surprise! Someone had used theater posters. The Ruth Gordon poster was for a play from the 1944 season; the ballet was likely from 1950. So unless the workshop had a really old stash of stuff, this mirror plate was probably replaced in the early 1950s.

Maybe the workshop was in the theater district?

Will need to stabilize the gesso, and make any infills needed. The rails are not carved, then gessoed, but instead the gesso is built into a thick layer and then carved. Tedious work to be sure.

This is another one of my personal projects, so it will probably be pretty low on the priority list. Don't expect to see an update on the finished project any time soon, but at least now, without the glass it's a lot easier to lift into its storage slot.

Another Mirror I Really Didn't Want

Mirror as found

These later version of the classic overmantel mirror were popular between the 1890s and WWI eras. They usually wound up hanging over a sideboard in the dining room if not actually used over a fireplace. They are usually poorly constructed with thin molded ornament. They are also usually deteriorating and not worth taking home, much less restoring. 

I happened across this one, and the price ($10!) was, as they say, right. I didn't really want the frame - I wanted it for the piece of mirror plate in the center section. When I got home with it, I realized that it was more substantial, and of better quality than most of these I run across. The turnings and ornament were fairly robust, and the prints nice copies of early ones. Some areas were water gilt, the rest flash gilded. 

Of course, nothing is perfect. There was a section of rail that sustained damage. I made a mold and cast a replacement. Actually two, since fitting these curved pieces can be tricky, and invariable at least one attempt shatters. Having a backup ensures that the first one will work fine and the second will not be needed.

There will be some gesso fills and touch-ups. I'm also debating replacing the prints with mirror plate. But since it will probably just end up in storage, maybe I'll make that decision later.

Missing section and new casting

Casting fitted into position

Well is it the Whole Ball of Wax or Not?

The current skewings jar

I'm in the middle of another  gilding project. While working with gold leaf, you do wind up with small scraps, or "skewings" - the excess gold that did not adhere and gets brushed off the item. It's a good idea to save these since they can come in handy later. For example, touch-up work in crevices or inner areas where these can be pushed in and then the excess removed (remember putting glitter on Elmer's glue when you were in elementary school?).

They can also be used in some decorative painting techniques where they are scattered on a surface.

As you become more experienced as a gilder, you get better at handling and laying leaf, so you don't have as much excess as you might think. This is a jar I've been using for years, and as you can see, it still has room. As for actual gold content, due to the thinness of the leaf, there are only a few grams of gold in there.

You've probably heard the saying "The whole ball of wax" meaning "everything". Some people believed that this came from the practice of picking up the scrap gold with a ball of wax, to be sent for sale at the scrap gold dealer. As it would take a long time to accumulate enough gold to make this worthwhile, someone could walk off with it; - making off with "the whole ball of wax".

These, and other versions are probably just legends. It is believed the true origin of the phrase derived from "the whole bailiwick".

Gilders like our story better.

Keeping Busy while Keeping my Social Distance

I realize that it has been a while since a blog entry. And now that we are in isolation mode it seems like a good chance to get caught up on a lot of things.

I'm using this time to work on a client project, as well as some of my own that have fallen by the wayside, never made it out of storage (and recent purchases).

Tools of the trade

The pieces shown here are for a chandelier. I received the unassembled pieces (Hey, kids, get this great "Make Your Own Chandelier Kit", but here is an illustration of a similar one on the project page: http://www.forthillstudios.com/Restorations/Chandelier2020/chandelier.html

This mirror was hanging on the wall for a bout a year. Finally stripped paint last month.

Now the structural repair begins

While the situation we are in is not pleasant, I'll try to make good use of my time. Both working on projects and posting about them.

I saw an oval potrait like the one below while previewing an auction. Then remembered I had one just like it in storage waiting for a repair. Now I'll put this in the queue.

As often happens, edges suffer losses on these ovals

Not the most extraordinary example, but the reverse painting was intact, the surface of the frame oxidized/aged but not over-painted. Corner elements need repair, but this is usually one of the simplest types of repairs. Currently hanging by the laundry room as a constant reproach. This could be its time!

All right, all right. I'll get to it.

Plein Air and the Requisite Adjustments

Green fields, ominous clouds

In August, my friend Steve and I spent a plein air day on Route 30 in Westborough (proving that you don't have to travel far in order to find subject matter). The stretch between Nourse farm and Tufts Veterinary Hospital offer some good views (as well as spots to pull off the road safely).

Now that winter is approaching, we re-visit those pleasant plein air excursions by taking out the paintings, evaluating them and doing any necessary (or even un-necessary) finishing touches.

I find that my paintings are impressive when out in the field, but when they come inside the house they are lacking something. Perhaps it's the change in light, or the passage of time.

These excursions do provide material for painting indoors over the upcoming winter.

Steve packing up His works are far more vibrant with more exciting color than I dare to use.

I like to paint in style.

It looked good in the field

As painted outdoors

Some later reworking 

As painted in the field

With later work at home. Not that much was done; major differences due to lighting when photographed.

End of the Season

Bringing the doorstep pumpkin home for the winter. Well, for the compost pile.

When fall arrives, it's time to start thinking about when to close up the house in Maine. Usually, there are spells of weather so good that you keep saying "well, maybe I'll just wait another week". And invariably, immediately afterwards the weather turns bitter and cold, usually with some freezing rain in the mix. Once again, I had planned a long close-up weekend, and then the forecast was for a week of record cold. So I made the one day journey to close up, take home the things that I needed back home, as well as those that should not be left in the cold, cold house.

You'd think after all these years I'd learn my lesson and not keep trying to extend the season.

Regilding an Oval Victorian Liner

Gilded liners for picture frames usually suffer from overzealous cleaning of the glass, where abrasion, combined with ammonia based products removes the protective shellac and then the gold.

Damaged are

In this case, the damage appeared to have been caused by the frame standing in a wet area. The gesso had become friable at one end, and the clay and gilding gone from that area. The concern with water damage is whether the rest of the gesso has been compromised.

The glue holding the joint together had also dissolved, so the first step was to re-glue and clamp this joint. The liner was gessoed, smoothed, and a grey clay applied. 

Grey clay applied

As it would be difficult to have a graceful transition, the entire liner was re-gilded with 22K. After burnishing, a light distressing, then shellac applied.

Water gilding

Finished

A Tropical Sojurn

On a cold, windy Saturday it was a nice respite to go a few miles up the road to Tower Hill Botanical Garden. While it wasn't a day for the outdoors, their indoor spaces were warm and tropical. We picked this spot for sketching, primarily because their was a convenient table and chairs to use as a workstation.

Not wanting to haul in any painting equipment, I took some photos and made a couple of sketches.

A Bacchante hiding in the foliage (at least from this angle)

He looks a bit like Harpo Marx in this sketch.

On Tuesday, made one of my sporadic appearances with a local painting group. Since a storm was imminent, wanted to paint something, anything that wouldn't include snow.

My watercolor version

Local Inspiration

For some reason I am fascinated by garages. This may be due to the fact that growing up we did not have one, or the fact that now that I have a two car garage, workshop and other stuff means that no car has been parked in it for the past 20 years.

When stopping at the dry cleaner's, I noticed this garage across the street, in the process of being updated. By the time I got around to taking a photograph, the doors had already been replaced.

But I was still intrigued enough to save it for reference, and did a quick watercolor sketch to cement it in my mind.

As usual, my first attempts always seem tentative in their use of color, and wind up looking insipid once dried.

I revisited the subject, using my artistic license (until it gets revoked) in order to add more signs of life and color. And best of all, it provided the image for this year's Christmas card!