News
"Clean and wax" for Adelaide City Council busts...
Conservation Project Manager Joanna Barr (pictured left) has "put the torch" to bronze busts depicting prominent South Australians, located on lawns outside Government House. As shown in the accompanying images, Jo and colleague Rita Bachmayer (pictured below left) used a blow torch to remove any moisture before applying a protective coat of wax to the busts of Sir Mellis Napier and Mary Lee.
 
As can be seen from these before and after images, the grey pall has been lifted from the faces of these significant South Australians.
 
Over the next few weeks Joanna's program of outdoor sculpture maintenance will be moving up North Terrace to the statue of Dame Roma Mitchell.
Stained glass conservation at Federation era mansion...
A montage of treatment images permission of DAIS South Australia.Click on the images for some soothing background music*
Constructed in 1898 for Thomas Roger Scarfe, a partner in the retail firm of Harris Scarfe & Co, "Eden Park" at Marryatville South Australia is recognised as a classic example of Federation architecture. It is listed on the State Heritage Register (SA), listed by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects on its register of Notable 20th Century Architecture and clasified by the National Trust.
The skylight was created by E F Troy. The upper surface of the skylight was covered in a tenacious film of particulate matter and possum droppings. Artlab conservators painstakingly cleaned the glass section-by-section while lying on platforms elevated over the skylight. The conservators were working in the roof cavity and perservered through some extremely hot conditions while Adelaide experienced one of the hottest summers for some time (hence the electric fan!!).
During the cleaning process, several breaks were discovered. Artlab engaged a stained glass specialist Bruce Hutton from Almond Glass in Melbourne to replace two sections of unpainted glass with complex breaks and areas of loss. The remaining breaks were stabilised by Artlab conservators by wicking a glass adhesive into the break.
"We are delighted by the results of this project" said Artlab's Project Manager, Joanna Barr. "Now that the years of grime have been removed, the luminosity and vivid colours of the windows can be enjoyed again".
*Music provided by Adelaide's own "O'Carolan Quartet" C1994
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