CONSERVATION TREATMENTS for HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES
Chief Conservator Susan Blakney never dreamt her love and pursuit of equestrian activities would become tied to her conservation career, until called by the Glen Curtis Aviation Museum of Hamondsport, NY to stabilize a 19th. C. Ladder truck. Every inch of the vehicle was painted and adorned with detailed striping, gilt motifs and landscape vignettes. Sadly this historic, decorative surface was in an advanced state of deterioration, rapidly flaking away. Employing the same consolidation techniques used for panel paintings, we reattached the cleaving multi layer paint structure. Their unusual treatment initiated our interest to attend a two day “Carriage Care and Preservation Symposium” at the Museums at Stony Brook, NY. Susan, Margaret and Nina staff painting conservators, Regina our textile technician and Western New York Conservation Guild colleague Ralph Wiegandt and objects conservator, traveled together to this rare gathering of Carriage Historians, Directors and curators of Carriage Collections, Conservators and Equestrian from the American Drivers Association. Along with practical approaches to their preservation and storage, we learned that the original painted and decorative surfaces are the substance of these vehicles, representing much of their visual impact and history of use. Fewer and fewer original painted surfaces exist due to poor storage conditions and over restoration. We are confident our ability to stabilize insecure flaking paint layers and remove the original finishes of these vehicles, bringing them back to a more historically accurate presentation. Losses may be compensated by inpainting. By collaboration with other allied conservation specialists in a team approach, we will customize our treatment to include preservation of the vehicle’s individual mixed-media components, including upholstery, hardware and structural elements. We look forward to applying our conservation skills and knowledge to the preservation of Hose Drawn Vehicles.