‘The Aesthete and the Abolitionist: Ruggles Morse and Emanuel Leutze’ by Charisse Gendron
Archive for Conservation & Restoration
Conserving the Mansion’s Magnificent Gasoliers
With the excitement of the Christmas season now behind us, Mansion staff shifts focus to the two major conservation projects in the Reception Room and the Parlor. One recent advancement was the re-installation of the Reception Room’s gasolier (originally gas-powered lighting fixture), and the de-installation of the Parlor’s. The Reception…
Reception Suite Conservation Update
Since our last update on the ongoing project to conserve the Mansion’s Reception Suite, Executive Director Tom Johnson and Assistant Director Tim Brosnihan joined up with stone conservator Ivan Myjer to investigate the possible sources of brownstone to rebuild the exterior of the badly deteriorated bay window. Large…
Return of the Red Porcelain!
Christmas Comes Early for Mansion Collections
Renovations in the Carriage House Museum Shop
Recent visitors to the Mansion may have noticed the new glass paneled doors of the Carriage House Museum Shop. What was predicted to be a straightforward installation proved to be more complicated, as the old wooden doors, badly in need of updating, produced a considerable amount of rot…
March Reception Suite Conservation Update
Conservators are now finishing the cleaning and stabilization of the Reception Suite ceiling. Next they will coat the surface with a removable barrier varnish to protect the original paint while also allowing for future conservation efforts to take place. Once the varnish is in place, in-painting of areas…
February Reception Suite Conservation Update
Conservators continue to clean the painted walls and ceiling of the Reception Suite, with its elaborate combinations of flat and molded plaster, canvas paintings and woodwork. The paint is water-based, so no aqueous substances can be used in cleaning. As the conservators proceed with the careful dry cleaning…
January Progress on Reception Room Restoration Project
Work on the Reception Room is advancing swiftly! Conservators are now cleaning over a century and a half of grime off the surfaces of the room’s walls and ceilings. Using latex sponges similar to those used to treat fire damage, conservators are able to remove fine, often sticky…