This tall chest was treated for flaking gesso groundcoating and some losses of the lacquered surface design. These areas were concentrated around the drawer edges, probably due to routine use. First the loose areas of gesso groundcoat were re-adhered to the surface using a rabbit skinglue solution. Next the gesso filling material was prepared using an historical recipe of chalk and rabbit skinglue. The heated gesso is then brushed into the lost areas in layers to build up the surface. Once the gesso has thoroughly dried it is shaved to the height of the adjoining surface using a sharp chisel. The white fill areas were then inpainted to match the existing faux tortoise shell lacquering with a shellac medium and earth pigment powders from Sinopia Pigments and Materials.
