Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI), Ottawa, CA

The Institution

CCI is a government-funded agency dedicated to the preservation of Canada's cultural heritage. CCI is internationally recognized in the field of conservation for its dedication to research especially in the areas of preventive conservation and material testing. 

Department of Heritage Interiors

Heritage interiors or historic interiors typically refer to architectural works or decorative elements that are integrated with the building structure. 

This department, managed by James Bourdeau, is unique because there are conservators from multiple specialties that also work in other labs at CCI. For example, my supervisor for this project, Wendy Baker, is trained as a paintings conservator and also works on easel paintings and polychrome sculpture in the Fine Arts lab. In most of the other labs, conservation treatments are carried to completion for various Canadian institutions that do not have conservators on staff. Heritage Interiors on the other hand typically completes investigation and performs “prototype treatments.” In other words, the project conservators from CCI develop the protocol for treatment, which may eventually be carried out in the private sector.   

 

National Research Council (NRC) Ceiling Project, September 2015


The NRC building at 100 Sussex Dr. (built 1930-1932) is a listed property for its heritage value in both the architecture and select decorative interiors in the library and the auditorium. The ceiling of the auditorium is plaster with wooden coffers. Painted motifs cover all the surfaces. 

Project workspace with engineered scaffolding





Diagram of overall ceiling. Note that the "prototype treatment" was carried out in the area highlighted in red. 

The Canadian Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office (FHBRO) oversees any modifications/improvements to listed properties. CCI was contracted in March 2014 to perform an initial condition assessment and preliminary investigation as to whether or not treatment might be possible on the auditorium painted ceiling.

I was included in the second phase of the project as an intern working alongside the project manager, Wendy Baker, and another contract conservator. Over one month we worked on site from engineered scaffolding to test various treatment methodologies based on the findings from the first phase.  Treatment was carried to completion in one repeat of the design.  

Wendy Baker beginning to inpaint

Treatment Summary

Treatment included three main steps: consolidation, cleaning, and inpainting. Large flakes of paint were delicately dangling from the ceiling and they were stabilized with a temporary Japanese tissue facing secured with gelatin. Various consolidants were tested and a combination of BEVA D8, Lascaux 4176, and rabbit skin glue were used depending on the size of the paint chip and/or the type of cleavage. 

Aged and yellowed varnish was removed using various mixtures of isopropanol and isooctane both as free solvents and in Carbopol gels in order to alter the strength and penetration of the cleaning agent. 

Most areas of loss were not filled because the surrounding paint application was so thin and also sensitive to water. Alkyd resin and Golden QoR paints were both tested for inpainting. The QoR paints were found to have less color shift upon drying and were easier to work with. Losses in gilded decoration were re-gilded using a commercial acrylic size and patent gold leaf. 

Stabilization/ Consolidation

Cleaning/ Varnish Removal

Inpainting/ Loss Compensation

Using Format