28-AL-2023_Nichelino, Stupinigi Hunting Lodge, Stigler Mechanical Workshops, Elevator

Facilitated description:

 

The lift of the Stupinigi Hunting Lodge is made of wood, metal and glass.
Officine Meccaniche Stigler built the lift at the beginning of 1900.
The lift is owned by the Fondazione Ordine Mauriziano.
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the lift in 2023-2024.
The restorers dismantled the lift and transported it to the Venaria workshops.
Hanno inserito l’ascensore in una camera anossica (camera senza ossigeno che serve a eliminare gli insetti che si nutrono di legno).

Scientists at the Venaria Centre did ultraviolet analysis (they photographed the lift with a particular light beam to see the parts of the paint damaged).
The restorers cleaned the lift of dust and damaged paint.
They filled the missing parts of the ceiling (top) with wood similar to the original.
They inserted new small columns at the top.
They mounted the missing glasses and fixed the lock and the opening system.
They used watercolor colors to make the surface even.
In the end, they painted the lift to protect it from the sun’s rays and dust.

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention: 

 

 

The lift cabin of the Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi, built by the Stigler mechanical workshops at the beginning of 1900, was restored by the ‘La Venaria Reale’ Conservation and Restoration Centre (CCR) in 2023-2024.
The restoration was carried out as part of the ‘Cantieri diffusi 2022’ call, funded by the CRT Foundation.
Preliminary analysis of the state of conservation of the work revealed widespread entomographic attacks of xylophagous insects and significant deterioration of the wooden support and veneer, detachments of the mouldings and deformations of the structure.
The intervention therefore involved dismantling the cabin and transporting it to the JRC laboratories, where disinfestation was carried out in an anoxic chamber and preventive treatment with anti-moth product was carried out.
Following the guidelines of the intervention protocol on wooden furnishings of the JRC, the cleaning and removal phases were preceded by a scientific study in order to characterize the filmogenic protective substances present and their relative degradation (ultraviolet fluorescence).
The cleaning of the degraded protective film and the consolidation of the wooden cladding lifts were followed. The upper part of the lift provided for the integration of the deficient parts of the hinge, the correction of the deformations of the wood and the insertion of new resin columns at the level of the balustrade. In addition, the missing glasses have been restored, while the handle and the opening mechanism have been refunctionalized.
Finally, in line with the principles of reversibility and recognisability of the intervention, chromatic adjustments were made with watercolor colors and a final protective painting.