Catalog Number: CHIR 3722
Object Name: Lifter, Jar
Material Types: Metal
Exam Date: 6/7/2019
Date of Treatment Report: 6/25/2019
Conservator: Ali Wysopal, conservation technician and Betsy Burr, conservator
Measurements: L 25.3, W 9.8, D 3.8 cm
DESCRIPTION: From ICMS record: “HEAVY WIRE W/ 2 REINFORCING WIRES ACROSS HANDLE PART.”
CHIR 3722 is a jar lifter consisting of iron rod bent into an hourglass shape with “U” shaped tongs and a secondary “I” shaped center component. The object is plated in white metal, possibly aluminum or nickel, though most of the plating is lost. The words “PAT MAR 94907” are engraved on the top.
CONDITION: Loose and fixed dust are present and white accretion is present on the central “I” shaped component. Most of the plating is lost with over 95% lost to the outer frame of the object. Most of the “I” shaped component remains retains its plating though it appears to be thin. Areas of plate loss expose iron with a blackened patina on the iron surface, which appears stable. Some areas of iron have dark red corrosion.
Treatment Procedure:
1. Surface was vacuumed using a micro-attachment brush.
2. Removed the catalog number using swabs of acetone.
3. Reduced dirt and grim with swabs of acetone.
4. Reduced copper corrosion with a stiff bristle brush and swabs of acetone.
5. Applied a micro-crystalline wax coating with Naptha solvent.
6. Reapplied catalog number printed on archival paper and adhered with Rhoplex.
Treatment Discussion: The cleaning and application of a wax coating on this object was performed as proposed. Rhoplex was used instead of B-72 to apply the catalog number. B-72 was found to form bubbles as it dried which obscured the text.
Date of completion of treatment: 6/24/2019