The Wyck House in Philadelphia, Pa., built circa 1700, was home to the Wistar-Haines family for nine generations, spanning nearly three centuries. The home is a unique example of the continuity a single family brings to a home, as new construction and alterations are blended with existing heirlooms and artifacts. One of Wyck’s most significant objects, a work of art on paper, is a sweeping panorama of Constantinople. Measuring over 13.5 feet in length, the work was engraved by Sawyer & Son and published by Thomas Palser and Henry Barker in London, in 1813. This is a significant print, but its provenance within the same house and family for over 160 years makes it particularly notable.


The paper support of the object had been mounted overall to cloth, which in turn had been stretched over a wooden strainer. When the image was evaluated by conservators at CCAHA, it was noted that there was a heavy amount of dust and surface grime on the front and back of the object, there were multiple losses and large tears through the paper support and there were several punctures through both the cloth and paper supports. The piece was in priority need of stabilization and rehousing.


Conservators at the CCAHA first tested the object for stability. Dust was removed from the back and behind the strainer with reduced suction aspiration. The surface was cleaned using deionized water and methyl cellulose, punctures in the cloth support were repaired with Japanese paper and wheat starch paste and areas of loss in the image were repaired by inserting toned Western paper with wheat starch paste. The Constantinople panorama was rehoused with ArtcareTM Archival Corrugate board which was attached to the back of the wooden strainer with screws and metal mending plates. This housing will protect the cloth and paper supports from physical damage as well as help control dirt and dust accumulation in the back of the object and behind the strainer walls.


The restored and rehoused panorama of Constantinople is back in place at Wyck. The ArtcareTM Archival Corrugate will protect this valuable image from the effects of airborne particulate matter and will absorb pollutant gases that would accelerate degradation.


ArtcareTM Archival Corrugate as the backing board to secure artifact within the frame and block gaseous pollutants from entering through the back of frame package. Japanese and toned Western papers with wheat starch paste to mend areas of loss. Deionized water and methyl cellulose as cleaning agents.
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