ConNext-2021

56 Unravelling the mystery: reconstructing marquetry decorations made of animal ‐ glue veneer. KEYWORDS: animal glue veneer, coloured inlays on wood, reconstruction, GC-MS and XRF, primary source research. On a little pendulum clock, a colourful but particularly looking inlay material was found. It puzzled the restorers: is this plastic? Is it an early thermoplastic paste? Technical research explained that the marquetry was made of animal glue. Thin sheets in different colours were sawn into leaves and flowers and laid into the black wood (figure 1). The use of similar coloured inlays on furniture grew during the 19 th century, some fine examples of inlaid furniture were made in Germany and France (figure 2). A first glance at a decoration with such bright colours -like pink, blue, green and white- does not give any clues about the composition and making process of this type of material. On the clock, the condition of the marquetry -showing lacuna, cracks and cupping pieces- made consolidation and treatment of the materials necessary. A research proposal included some evident questions: ‘Is cleaning and consolidation with heat and moist possible on a glue-based decoration?’ ‘How was the animal glue processed into a sheet of veneer?’ ‘What colourants were used, are any additives present?’ Several studies into the subject have tried to understand the use, production and degradation of animal glue-based veneer, for example a thesis study by Wüllen in 2016. 1 This presentation tries to add to this field by reviewing a reconstruction of coloured animal glue veneer for the purpose of filling lacunae in the pendulum clock marquetry. The aim is to explain the choices that were made to unravel the mysterious making process behind the marquetry and the best way to consolidate and fill the missing pieces. The research behind the treatment included investigation of historical sources about the (industrial) production of coloured animal glue veneer. Additionally, technical analysis with GC-MS and XRF provided clues about the content of the clock marquetry. Testing of different methods to colour animal glue and process it into a veneer sheet was also part of the research. The goal was to create a method to make fillings made of coloured animal glue-veneer that replicate the colour, gloss and texture of the original material and are reversible and durable too. sterrevanderweerd[at ]gmail.com 1 Wullen, Stephanie and Carola Klinzmann. "Special coloured inlays on furniture in the mid- nineteenth century. Imitation of lacquer, ivory or horn?" In: Material imitation and imitation materials, Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Symposium on Wood and Furniture Conservation. Amsterdam: Stichting Ebenist, 2016.