This week in objects conservation we return to the 1920’s Paul Theodore Frankl mirror. The aluminum leaf on the base and frame is easily abraded and during its use, suffered from normal wear and tear. You can see in the photos some of the scratches and scuffs present around the base, and on the top surface, a circular area of wear.

Our conservator is working to minimize the visual impact of some of this damage by toning in some of the largest and most concentrated areas to make them less distracting. This is done by applying new aluminum leaf over selected areas of loss and distressing it to blend in with the surrounding aged leaf. By toning in some but not all areas of loss, evidence of past use will still be clearly visible though not so prominent that it distracts from the overall appearance. You can catch this object on display soon in an upcoming exhibition in Spring 2021!