Patinations

Painted Nursery Chest

Painted Pine Nursery Chest with applied bead and reel detail, circa 1930.

Part of a suite of nursery furniture, this chest was originally painted with a light wash and the central coloured pyrography illustration was burnt into the surface later.
The original nitrocellulose lacquer on the chest had discoloured to a yellow-green and was flaking off.

Conservation involved the deteriorated nitrocellulose being selectively removed, which revealed vibrant original colours underneath. Damage to the painted surfaces was touched up with in-painting to areas of missing paintwork. Broken knobs and applied beading were replaced and coloured to match, then the entire piece was sealed with shellac.