For you restoration junkies

[PaulSF]

An interesting story in the New York Times about the restoration of a damaged Picasso:

To the untutored eye little is different about “The Actor,” the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s rare Rose Period Picasso, other than that it is now safely behind plexiglass. It’s virtually impossible to tell that on a January afternoon a woman taking an adult education class accidentally fell into the canvas, causing a six-inch vertical tear along the lower right-hand corner.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/arts/design/21picasso.html?ref=arts

 

[Framar]

Great article - I do wonder how they attach a Mylar to patch to the verso - I wonder what sticks to Mylar? Maybe wax?

I tried using Mylar as a reinforcement on something that I was repairing and it would not stick to a danged thing.

 

[Jeff Rodier]

Beva is being used with Mylar. Beeswax is used with traditional linen patches but I don't know if it is being used with Mylar.

 

[Framar]

I have seen mention of Beva - what exactly is it? Some kind of adhesive, I presume? I'm afraid if it's not in the United catalog it is pretty much off of my radar screen.

 

[Jeff Rodier]

Half way down the page.

http://www.gainsboroughproducts.com/gains_catalog.html

Click around the links at the top of the page to see the restoration processes. Not all of the products are shown in use but it is very educational.

 

[Framar]

Oh man I can't click on that link - I'd want one of everything they have to sell!!!

Awful being poor.

 

[Jeff Rodier]

Start with the little linen patching kit and buy a garage sale oil for $2. The kit includes the instructions but the full manual is a great resource. I believe I am now on my 3rd copy in the last 30 years.

 

[Jeff Rodier]

Mar, this is the page with the informational links.

http://www.gainsboroughproducts.com/index.html