Items to be restored:
Twelve porcellain plates of various sizes decorated in red monochrome, known as “cockerel” pattern, part of a service dated XVIII century. Ginori
Property of a Private Collector, Geneve, Switzerland.
Condition of the plates
The first analysis revealed, in 12 of the 91 pieces, some widely restored areas, clearly marked by a yellowing of the colour and by a considerable deterioration; the remaining 79 pieces had small areas missing, especially on the edge and along the foot on the back.
As soon as we removed the colour of the previous restorations, we noticed hair cracks, old fillings and wide reconstructions of the rim.
A few little scratches and abrasions occurred close to some previously treated areas .
The wear in some areas, especially in the “cavetto”, has made the porcelain coating opaque and has removed part of the decoration.
Firing faults and under glaze stains are scattered.
Restoration Procedures
The old glues, previously softened softened with infrared lamp, the old paint and the filling materials, have been removed partly with a cotton flock soaked in ketone solvents, partly with a scalpel.
After the cleaning we started assembling the pieces with epoxy resins, filling the joints with epoxy putty, also used to re-build the missing areas.
This has been achieved by making silicone moulds of the original parts, these were detached and not to damage the delicate surface of the ceramic, rubbed separately and rubbed down separately, and then replaced in their original position.
Several coats of acrilic colours, the same tone as the porcelain, have been airbrushed. Finally, the pictorial touch with Maimeri Restauro Colours and a protective varnish, was applied.
We thought it right to remove every sign of breakage or lack of material without concealing the slight abrasions, stains and firing faults as they were considered special peculiarities due to the age and history of the object. The aim was to recreate the true nature of the piece, keeping his original state unchanged.
The restoration is reversible.