55-AL-2006_Nichelino, Stupinigi Hunting Lodge, G. M. Bonzanigo, M. Rapous, Specchiera, inv. 352

Facilitated description:

 

The mirror has a painted and gilded wooden frame and is decorated with leaves and flowers.
In 1784 Giuseppe Maria Bonzanigo and Michele Rapous created the frame.
Bonzanigo made the wooden parts and Rapous painted the decorations.
The mirror is kept at the Hunting Palace of Stupinigi.
The Centro Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale restored the mirror in 2008 after its discovery. The mirror was stolen in 2004.
The restorers have placed the mirror 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 or from the layers of old restorations).
They replaced the metal supports of the upper part of the frame with steel pieces.
They consolidated (made more stable) the detached decoration parts.
The decoration of the frame had gaps (missing parts). 
The restorers have integrated (filled) the gaps with stucco (plaster and glue layer) and reconstructed some parts of the frame.
In the end, the restorers painted the frame to protect it from the sun's rays and dust.

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

The restoration of the mirror, carried out by Giuseppa Maria Bonzanigo and Michele Rapous, 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 Palace of Stupinigi in 2004. After the restoration, the work was exhibited at the opening exhibition of the Reggia di Venaria to the public: The Palace of Venaria and the Savoy. Art, magnificence and history of a European court (Reggia di Venaria, 13 October 2007 - 30 March 2008). At the end of the exhibition the work was relocated, together with the twin mirror inv. 351, at the Palazzina. 

 

Restoration

The work was subjected to disinfestation in anoxic chamber for a period of three weeks. Subsequently, differentiated surface cleaning was carried out depending on the materials. The metal bars behind the spike have been replaced by steel bars. The fragments of the carved decoration have been repositioned and glued, in some cases inserting wooden or steel pins. Subsequently, the deepest gaps caused by fractures were consolidated, the smallest missing parts were reconstructed, and the golden surface and colour consolidations were carried out. The atmospheric deposits were then removed and the grouting was pictorially integrated. In agreement with the Works Management, the remakes of the missing decoration parts were carried out. The old sculpture remakes have been made homogeneous with watercolor veils and watercolor colored pencils. Finally, all over the surface was itself a protective film.

 

Bibliography 

S. De Blasi, Schedule 16.11, in "La Reggia di Venaria e i Savoia. Art, magnificence and history of a European court", catalogue edited by E. Castelnuovo, Turin, Allemandi, 2007, p.