02-AL-2013_Venaria, Reggia, 8-legged "mazzarina" desk with monogram by Maria Battista Giovanna, inv. 1394-L (ownership of the Civic Museum of Ancient Art of Turin - Palazzo Madama)

Facilitated description:

 

The mazzarina desk is a type of desk named after Cardinal Giulio Raimondo Mazarino.
The desk has 8 legs, a central drawer and the front part curved and divided into three parts.
The desk was built between the end of 1600 and the beginning of 1700.
The desk is kept at the Reggia di Venaria.
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the desk in 2013.
The restorers cleaned the desk of dust.
They filled the holes caused by the wood-fed insects with colored wax.
In the end they painted the desk to protect it from the sun's rays and dust.

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention:

 

The extraordinary maintenance of the desk at the "mazzarina" with the monogram of Maria Giovanna Battista was carried out on the occasion of the preparation of the work at the Reggia di Venaria. In fact, the desk was located in the deposits of the Civic Museum of Ancient Art (Palazzo Madama) and was destined for the permanent visit of the Reggia di Venaria. 

Maintenance

The intervention provided for the removal of particulate deposits with vacuum cleaners and brushes. Subsequently, the flickering holes were filled with pigmented wax. A protective film was then applied and the gaps in the paint layer were filled.