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Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Jain Shrine—Now on Display!

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

9/14/2023

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Jain Shrine

If you’ve been following our Conservation blog posts, you may have seen several updates as we carried out treatment over the past two years.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Jain Shrine Nearing Completion!

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

5/18/2023

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Jain Shrine

The treatment on our Jain Shrine is (finally!) nearing completion!

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Shell & Barnacle Covered Bowl

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

4/20/2023

CAMConservation , Celadon Glaze , Chinese bowl , Marine life , Saltwater , objects conservation

This fifteenth-century Chinese ceramic bowl presents some intriguing features that tell a fascinating story of its past. Shells and barnacles cover the bowl’s surface. These unusual attachments are commonly seen on objects that have spent time in ocean environments, in this example, possibly the result of a shipwreck.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Filling-in Areas of Loss

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

3/23/2023

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation

After removing all the old adhesive and over paint, we revealed several areas of loss to the painted scene on the glazed surface. This loss was likely caused by the same incident that damaged the foot causing the piece to break into multiple fragments.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Conserving and Displaying a Palampore

by Obie Linn, Associate Conservator of Textiles

3/2/2023

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Palampore , South Asian Art , textile conservation

Are you a pal of Indian textiles? Then be sure to see the palampore currently on display in the South Asian Gallery!

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Jain Shrine—Revealing Multiple Layers of History

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

2/23/2023

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Jain Shrine

While cleaning and conserving our Jain shrine, we discovered several layers of paint from different periods of its history. The carved wooden designs would have been repainted several times during its use as a devotional object.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Preparing a Vintage Child’s Dress for Display

by Obie Linn, Associate Conservator of Textiles

2/2/2023

conservation , CAMConservation , behind the scenes , objects conservation , Kehinde Wiley , vintage dress

Getting beautiful objects on display is a multi-stage process that often includes a stop (or several!) in Conservation. This week we installed some new objects in the Forecourt Gallery of the museum, including this child’s dress.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Cleaning Up the Jain Shrine—Work Continues!

by Kelly Rectenwald, Associate Objects Conservator

1/26/2023

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Jain Shrine

We are working on conserving a new piece of the shrine—which is cleaning up very well—revealing beautiful bright red and yellow pigments underneath the coating.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Jain Shrine Update

by Conservation

11/17/2022

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Jain Shrine

This week in objects conservation: Almost 12 months from when we first started the treatment, half of the Jain shrine has been conserved, and a new batch of pieces has moved into the lab to begin treatment.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: A Pair of Ceramic Jars

by Conservation

10/20/2022

behind the scenes , object conservation , objects conservation , CAMConservation , permanent collection

These large jars are in rough shape and are currently in the lab for some major repairs.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Jain Shrine Reveal

by Conservation

7/28/2022

CAMConservation , Jain Shrine , Reveal , objects conservation , behind the scenes

This week in objects conservation: We have finished coating removal and cleaning of one of the 44 pieces of our Jain Shrine!

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: The JoLynn and Byron Gustin Gallery

by Conservation

6/30/2022

behind the scenes , object conservation , objects conservation , CAMConservation

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about their treatment progress and enjoy seeing them back in the galleries on your next visit!

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Shrine Time

by Conservation

4/7/2022

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Jain Shrine

This week in objects conservation: We take another look at the progress being made on our 17th C Jain Shrine.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Wooden Cabinet Inlaid with Ivory and Brass

by Conservation

2/10/2022

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Mughal

This week in the objects conservation lab: A beautiful wooden cabinet inlaid with ivory and brass.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Ancient Middle East Gallery

by Conservation

12/16/2021

behind the scenes , Nabataean art , Nabataean Shrine , stone conservation , objects conservation , archaeological conservation , CAMConservation , Nabatea

This week in objects conservation, we’re doing the finishing touches to the 100+ objects being installed in our newly renovated Ancient Middle East Gallery, opening Saturday, December 18.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Nabataean Pottery

by Conservation

10/14/2021

objects conservation , object conservation , CAMConservation , ceramics conservation , archaeological conservation

Catch this object on view later this year when our Nabatean collections return to the galleries.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 19th Century Silver Bowl

by Conservation

9/15/2021

behind the scenes , object conservation , objects conservation , CAMConservation , silver conservation

In the objects conservation lab this week: we have a beautiful, though heavily tarnished, 19th C silver bowl in the lab being treated before going on display next year.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Grime Be Gone

by Conservation

8/19/2021

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation

In Objects Conservation: This 19th C carved wooden box is in the lab undergoing conservation before display in an upcoming reinstallation of our South Asian Art Galleries.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 12th Century Mina’I Ceramic Bowl

by Conservation

7/22/2021

islamic ceramics , minaiware , ceramics conservation , behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation

Catch this newly stabilized object back on display in the Islamic galleries later this year!

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 12th–13th Century Water Jar

by Conservation

6/24/2021

ceramics conservation , ceramics , islamic ceramics , Islamic Art , behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation

This week in objects conservation: Anytime an object is selected for display our objects conservator assesses its condition to determine whether it is stable, or whether it needs conservation treatment before display.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: More Ceramics!

by Conservation

5/27/2021

ceramics , ceramics conservation , islamic ceramics , Islamic Art , Islamic , behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation

These two ceramic pieces have the same condition issues we see in many ceramic objects conserved in the early to mid 20th C.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 16th Century Islamic Mug

by Conservation

4/29/2021

ceramics , ceramics conservation , islamic ceramics , Islamic Art , Islamic , behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation

This week we have a 16th C mug decorated with ships, seas, and animals.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 18th Century Islamic Ceramic Vessel

by Conservation

4/1/2021

ceramics , islamic ceramics , ceramics conservation , behind the scenes , objects conservation , conservation

This week we have an 18thC Islamic ceramic vessel with beautiful underglaze decoration.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 16th century Iznik plate

by Conservation

3/4/2021

ceramics , islamic ceramics , Islamic Art , Islamic , behind the scenes , objects conservation

This week in objects conservation: this 16th century Iznik plate is in the lab receiving treatment.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Nabataean Shrine Repair

by Conservation

2/4/2021

behind the scenes , Nabataean art , stone conservation , objects conservation , archaeological conservation , petra

The lab is full of architectural stones as we get ready to reinstall our Nabataean galleries.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 10th Century Ceramic Bowl

by Conservation

1/7/2021

behind the scenes , lusterware , islamic ceramics , objects conservation , ceramics conservation , conservation

This bowl, from Iraq, is a beautiful example of lusterware. Luster is an iridescent effect produced by metallic oxides in the overglaze.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Assyrian Stone Wall Relief

by Conservation

11/19/2020

behind the scenes , conservation , stone conservation , archaeological conservation , objects conservation

This stone relief dates to 883-859 BCE and depicts a divine figure wearing a horned headdress.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: 1920’s Paul Theodore Frankl Mirror

by Conservation

10/22/2020

behind the scenes , objects conservation , decorative arts , art conservation , gilding conservation , aluminum leaf , conservation

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.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Ceramic Lion

by Conservation

9/24/2020

ceramics conservation , objects conservation , conservation

This ceramic lion has been in the lab getting ready for an upcoming gallery rotation, meaning when a group of works from our permanent collection are ‘rotated’ onto view in a gallery.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Checking in with our summer intern

by Conservation

7/22/2020

objects conservation , lacquered box , hidden objects , conservation , behind the scenes , conservation internship

The objects conservation lab is happy to welcome summer intern Nicole Schmidt, a graduate student from the Garman Art Conservation Department at SUNY Buffalo State in her third year of training.