Josef Hoffman flower basket
This painted metal flower basket is owned by a member of the Buffalo State University faculty. I was able to work closely with him to align my treatment methods with his aesthetic wishes for the object.
Before treatment images
The before-treatment vase was in two pieces, and its flaking paint needed consolidation. There was some distracting staining on the bottom of the base.
Reattaching the pieces
Wanting a more solid adhesive join than a butt joint between the top and the base, I fabricated a small right-angle flange out of brass by silver soldering a ring matching the inner circumference of the top basket cage onto a flat sheet. Using a jeweler's saw, I removed most of the material around the ring, leaving only a short flat base.
I toned the flange using dry pigments in B-48N in acetone. I then applied more B-48N in acetone to the outer surface of the flange, as well as to its bottom, and pushed it down into place.
The flange in place
Solder seam
Illustration of the fabricated flange
Surface cleaning
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After treatment images
The flaking paint was consolidated with a low concentration of paraloid B-72 in acetone, applied by brush. The stains on the base were cleaned with cotton swabs lightly dampened with acetone.
