British or British-American Looking Glass

Second half of 18th century

Biggs Museum of American Art

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This giltwood looking glass was likely purchased in Philadelphia by Dover, Delaware merchant Vincent Loockerman, Jr. in the second half of the 18th century, and may have been made in Philadelphia or imported from Britain.  The frame has sustained numerous breaks and restoration campaigns, resulting in unstable or poorly aligned joints and unsympathetic loss compensations.  The surface has also been restored with multiple applications of metallic powder paint which has subsequently oxidized and darkened, obscuring the gilding.  The proposed treatment involves structural stabilization of the wooden substrate, fabrication of visually appropriate loss compensations, surface cleaning and overpaint removal, and visual unification.    

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View examination report and treatment proposal HERE