Condition

The head of the sculpture is separate from the neck and shoulders. Both body and head have a narrow cavity, the head half containing a section of plastic dowel. This has caused some cracking at the crown of the head where it has pushed at the dry clay. The dowel appears to have snapped at the same point as the clay. The dowel has cracking throughout. The clay has not been fired, and such is susceptible to water damage.

In some areas the thin overlying layer of clay has been damaged, showing the finer grained, paler clay base.

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Treatment Aims

Consolidate the clay, repair the damage and protect the sculpture from further damage.

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Treatment

The surface was very carefully dry cleaned using a soft brush. To help support the clay body, it was decided to consolidate the artefact. To choose the best treatment, various consolidant-solvent mixtures were tested, and a 4% solution of Aquazol 500 in IDA and distilled water was chosen. This was applied in three layers to ensure a good depth of penetration and saturation, with any excess being removed using distilled water on a cotton swab.

Once the consolidant had dried, moulds were taken of the head and neck break edges. Clingfilm was used to protect the clay, and steramould used to take the impression. Crystacal R plaster casts were made and used to work out the orientation of the pieces. Smaller fragments were re-adhered to the main body using a 20% solution of Aquazol, before joining the two main pieces with the same mixture.

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