26764
Accession Number
20105
Author
Johansson, L.-U.
Title Of Article Chaper
The conservation of two ancient Swedish travelers' sundials
Title Of Journal Book
MASCA journal
Volume
4
Issue
2
Pages
76-80
Collation
8 halftone plates, 1 drawing, 1 ref.
Publisher
MASCA. University of Pennsylvania
Publisher City
Philadelphia
Language Of Text
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
The two sundials were photographed, given a technical examination including radiography, and treated for the purpose of their conservation. The first was excavated in the Uppsala area and consists of two rectangular ivory panels hinged together like a book, with details of bronze and glass. It was calibrated for use at a latitude between 49° 25 and 49° 30 N, and was probably made at Nürnberg, perhaps ca. 1550-1600. The ivory was cleaned with ethanol and consolidated with aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol); the badly crazed glass, which covered a compass needle, was consolidated with an acrylic resin in acetone. The second sundial was from the wreck of a warship known to have sunk off the island of Öland in 1676. It is circular, made of brass with a cover glass over a compass needle, and was found in an ivory box. This sundial was calibrated for about 50° N, suggesting that it was for use in central Europe. The ivory box was consolidated with poly(ethylene glycol) and the crazed glass with poly(vinyl alcohol); the brass was cleaned of its corrosion products.
Keywords
Tool, ivory; polyethylene, glycol; synthetic-resin, acrylic; synthetic-resin, polyvinyl alcohol; bronze, artifact restoration; glass, artifact restoration; ICCROM
pub_id
26764