Academic thesis

Melanie Schwesing: Back
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Abstract: The present Bachelor‐Thesis is concerned with a mirror frame with reverse painting on glass.
Since the technique of reverse painting is not exceedingly common, a definition is given and
particulars are being defined. Furthermore, a classification concerning the art history and the date of
the mirror’s manufacture are being considered. Subsequently, the construction of the mirror frame
and the mounting of the reversely painted glass is being looked at in its entirety, followed by detailed
examination of the various materials used.
The substructure of the mirror frame is made of a wooden frame, in which the actual mirror is
placed. 17 pieces of crown‐glass are decorated with accurately‐cut ornaments plated with gold and
silver leafs and placed in front of an originally red background. The decoration is completed with
painted flowers, mainly roses, tulips and forget‐me‐nots. Above the mirror is an illustration showing
carefully arranged military equipment with Ottoman symbols, a trophy‐illustration that might be
connected with the Second Siege of Vienna in 1683. A groundwood pulp paper is laid underneath the
reversely painted glasses. It is fixed at the edges of the glass with a surround of tin plate, and glued
to the wooden frame with animal glue.
This kind of mounting of the glasses to the wooden frame is the reason for numerous kinds of
damage, as there are breakages of the fixed glass due to a bending of the wooden frame, and a
strappo‐effect of the painting due to the conglutination of paint and paper. This effect also occurs
where loose glass or detached broken shards where fixated by a later application of PVCA‐glue.
Climatic changes and technological mistakes in the making of the reverse paining resulted in
considerable loosening of the paint and subsequent paint loss in many parts. The strong acidity of
the groundwood pulp paper and the direct contact of the paper to the wood have led to progressive
yellowing and decay of the paper.
Without extensive conservative measures like consolidation in many parts, removal of the paper
glued to the wooden frame and buffering of the paper, further damage and paint loss are to be
expected.

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Details:
  • academic institution: FH Erfurt
  • kind of theses:  Bachelorarbeit
  • date:  2013
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