Rozdzielenie warstw polichromii i zapraw na rzeźbie gotyckiej Anioł-Akolita

One of the graduation works at the Department o f Conservation, Cracow Academy of Fine Arts, consisted mainly in preapration of a method for separation o f two layers o f polychramy and layers o f grounds with gilding and silver-plating and, next, in their being transferred from the Gothic wooden sculpture into a form making an exact copy of the original. The latter, a statue of acolyte angel is the property o f the National Museum in Cracow. The Baroque layer dating from the second half of the 17th century (the fourth layer in chronological order) was separated from also a Baroque layer, dating from the first half of that century (the third chronological layer) and transferred onto a statue making a direct replica of the original. Prior to the proceedings carried out on the said original, a number o f Preliminary tests was performed on objects specially selected foi'ihe purpose. The respective stages of the tests were as follows: — protection of the surface o f the sculpture; — sticking of its given fragment partly according to T. Margeritoff’s method; ■— application of a compress softening the layers to be separated; ■—■ separation o f the layers; — introduction of an intervening layer and, namely, of a Japanese tissue paper glued at the back of the taken o ff fragment o f the layer ; — setting of separated layers on provisional net racks or on stearin-gas ones, making it possible for the sculptural shape being retained o f the transferred fragment of the layer; ■— removal of the glue coating from the face o f the layer set on the rack, action o f water compress, fastening with pins of the racks ■— together with the layers set on them — to a carboard base; — duplication o f the object; ■— separation from the provisional net racks o f the fragments of the layer and pasting them onto the replica o f the sculpture; — joining into a whole o f the respective parts o f the replica, with the layers transferred on them. It is considered that in the case o f a conservation problem o f similar nature the above described method may be applied for separation of the layers of ground, polychromy, gilding, silver-plate or of the polychromy alone. The said method may be further improved in many respects.