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Please access the museum through Mt. Adams from Martin Drive the morning of Sunday, May 5. The museum will not be accessible from Gilbert Avenue and Art Museum Drive due to the Flying Pig Marathon. We expect roads to open by early afternoon.

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Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 19th Century Cup and Saucer

by Conservation

4/2/2020

ceramics conservation , objects conservation , porcelain , capillary action , behind the scenes , cup , saucer

broken porcelain cup with gold engraving

Cup and Saucer, 1886, John Brownsword, gilder, Derby Crown Porcelain Co., manufacturer, England, porcelain, Museum Purchase, 1887.31

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This small 19th C cup and saucer have been in the lab awaiting treatment from our objects conservator. This set is made of porcelain with very thin, translucent walls and a gilt fruit and vine design. The fragile porcelain cup had broken into several fragments. Luckily, the breaks were very clean and all of the edges lined up with minimal loss along the joins. For the repair, the piece was first taped together using tiny pieces of tape cut into 2 x 3 millimeter lengths.

repaired cup and saucer

Cup and Saucer, 1886, John Brownsword, gilder, Derby Crown Porcelain Co., manufacturer, England, porcelain, Museum Purchase, 1887.31

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The conservation adhesive was applied with a pin needle in very small droplets to the joined up edges on the interior of the cup. The adhesive droplets were drawn into the join edge through capillary action to create a seamless repair.  The cup and saucer won’t ever be sipped from again, of course, but this conservation treatment will allow the beautiful set to be exhibited in future.

 

Related: From Copper Plate to Teacup: Transfer Printing on Ceramics