26-AL-2006_Nichelino, Hunting Lodge of Stupinigi, Bedside table inlaid with lozenges, inv. 6774

Facilitated description:

 

The bedside table is a wooden cabinet with a marble shelf made in 1750-1799.
The bedside table has an inlay decoration, that is, made with different types of wood.
The bedside table is kept at the Hunting Palace of Stupinigi.
The Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale restored the bedside table in 2006-2007 after the discovery of the piece of furniture. The bedside table was stolen in 2004.
The restorers have placed the bedside table in an anoxic chamber (room without oxygen that serves to eliminate insects that feed on wood).
They carried out a cleaning (cleaned the surface from the dirt deposited over time).
The bedside table had a slot in the wooden door. 
The restorers integrated (filled the slot) with pieces of wood and glue.
They glued the raised pieces of wood. 
In the parts where the decoration of the wood was missing they inserted tiles of similar wood.
They integrated (filled) the wood holes with colored beeswax. 
Eventually they painted the bedside table to protect it from the sun's rays and dust.

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

The restoration of the inlaid bedside table was completed in 2007 under the supervision of Pinin Brambilla Barcilon. The intervention was carried out on the occasion of the discovery of the nucleus of works stolen from the hunting lodge of Stupinigi in 2004. After the restoration, the work was relocated to the Palazzina.

 

Restoration

The restoration involved cleaning the marble top of the bedside table. At the level of the wooden support, an anoxic chamber disinfestation was carried out for a period of three weeks. The atmospheric deposits were then removed with brushes and vacuum cleaner. The surface was cleaned with water and alcohol.
The cracking on the door was filled by inserting 2.5 cm wooden wires anchored with animal glue. On the decorated surface a cleaning with citrate triammonium was carried out, followed by the cleaning of the atmospheric deposits present on the metal parts. The slab lifts were glued and the missing tiles were integrated using the same wood essence, then chromatically intoned. The holes and gaps were plastered with pigmented beeswax. Finally it was itself on the whole surface a protective film.