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Overall image of recto before treatment

Gustav Dentzel Carousel Company, Carousel Rounding Board, ca. 1902. Paint on wood, 29 x 96 in. Collection of Shelburne Museum, acquired from Jones and Erwin, Inc. 1951-392.89.

Overall image of verso before treatment

Infrared reflectography of the rounding board emphasized outlines and other underdrawing. This image shows some changes to the placement of the fish tail as well as markings in the sky, which may be related to matching up adjoining boards. 

This infrared reflectography image swirling lines through the mountains, which may have been roughly sketching out their form or transition into clouds. 

Severe craquelure was present over the majority of the background of the main scene. This detail also illustrates that the border decoration was thinly painted and applied over top of the completed central motif. 

Interesting craquelure patterns were present in certain areas. The lines visible here at the shoreline may be pentimenti of an earlier composition underneath the current presentation surface. 

The uneven varnish application is especially apparent here in the border. There were also thicker drips of amber-colored varnish scattered across the surface. 

In addition to discolored varnish, this rounding board had local staining such as these black marks. There was also abrasion from use. Note that the border appears to have a darkened aged varnish as well as streaky black stains possibly from machine oil. 

Similar fingerprint stains were present on another area of the design. The finger prints suggest that someone working on the carousel, perhaps to oil parts, may have left these marks.

The patchiness of the varnish and the uneven surface texture are evident in this detail. 

Ultraviolet light photography (bottom) before treatment helped document the uneven varnish application. The bright green autoflourescence is typical of a natural resin varnish. The dark areas suggest the additional presence of an oil-based coating and/or stains. 

Small samples of the paint layers were taken before treatment to examine in cross section. Sampling is always carried out in a discreet location or area of existing damage. 

Cross section sample X.1 taken from top right border. A thick varnish layer is visible above the yellow paint. There appears to be embedded dirt (black) particles in the varnish. 

Ultraviolet light emphasizes two discreet varnish layers on cross section X.1. The top most layer is brownish or has "quenched fluorescence," which is more typical of an oil-based coating. The second varnish layer is bright green, highly autofluorescent, which is characteristic of a natural resin varnish.