Examination and Treatment of a Set of Klismos Chairs, Attr. To John and Hugh Finlay

Abstract

This paper describes the examination and treatment of a set of four klismos side chairs, attributed to John and Hugh Finlay of Baltimore, Maryland (1815–1825), in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Xradiographs, detailed drawings of the construction, and comparisons between the four chairs indicated an unusual coordination of work between chair makers, painters, and caners within the Finlay shop. Cross sectional stratification analysis aided in designing the treatment and understanding the decoration, including a puzzling blue ground layer and painted caned seats. Analysis with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry in the scanning electron microscope indicated the use of pigments such as chrome yellow, lead white, Prussian blue, and hematite. The treatment focused on the selective reduction of multiple later layers of varnish in a four-step process with solvent blends based on Keck #2, Pomerantz #3, #4, and Rabin #2, initially creating several levels of cleaning. Condition anomalies, such as a tenacious layer and dirt in a craquelure, were dealt with separately. Losses were filled and inpainted to a level that resulted in a legible decorated surface and a coherent set, without concealing the wear and age of the chairs.