48-AL-2006_Nichelino, Stupinigi Hunting Lodge, J. Robert (attr.), Clock, inv. 311

Facilitated description: 

 

Josuè Robert made this watch around 1760-1770.
The clock is white and golden and is decorated with flowers.
The clock is kept at the Palazzina di Caccia in Stupinigi.
The Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale restored the clock in 2006-2008 after the discovery of the work. The watch was stolen in 2004.
The restorers placed the clock in an anoxic chamber (an oxygen-free chamber that serves to eliminate insects that feed on wood). 
They carried out a cleaning (cleaned the surface from the dirt deposited over time or from the layers of old restorations).
They removed the painted parts during an old restoration, then they themselves have a layer of putty (gypsum and glue). 
In the end the restorers performed the pictorial integration (rebuilt with color) the missing parts of decoration and painted the stucco parts.
 

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

The restoration of the watch attributed to Josué Robert was completed in 2008 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 watch had obvious gaps and some problems related to the presence of different types of materials. The watch was subjected to anoxic disinfestation. The retouching of a previous restoration has therefore been eliminated. In these areas a recognizable grouting and a watercolor color integration were carried out. Finally, watercolor veils were carried out on the abraded areas.