Conservation: revealing a hidden skeleton of death | Barniz de Pasto cabinet | V&A
Victoria and Albert Museum・2 minutes read
An x-rayed table cabinet from 1650 Peru revealed hidden images decorated with mopa mopa resin, featuring a sea monster and Pelican in her Piety. Scientific analysis unveiled mercury chloride pigment, and conservation efforts uncovered intricate designs and lettering, hinting at a complex rebus puzzle with a mysterious message waiting to be deciphered.
Insights
- The cabinet made in 1650 from the Viceroyalty of Peru was intricately decorated with mopa mopa motifs using the Barniz de Pasto technique, featuring a sea monster and a Pelican in her Piety.
- Scientific analysis uncovered mercury chloride pigment in the cabinet, a first in the UK, while revealing hidden designs like a skeleton of death, hinting at a complex rebus puzzle within the original scheme that challenges traditional interpretations of the scene, urging further exploration and decryption.
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Recent questions
What is Barniz de Pasto?
A technique using mopa mopa resin for decoration.
What was found during scientific analysis?
Presence of mercury chloride as a pigment.
What did the conservation process involve?
Using solvent gel to remove overpaint.
What was revealed through x-ray and micro computer tomography?
Hidden designs, including a skeleton of death.
What is the potential significance of the original scheme?
Contains elements requiring interpretation, like a rebus puzzle.
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