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SJ Conservation

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Excavated earthenware vessel

Object
Archaeological ceramic vessel, excavated in the 1970s
Material
Low-fired earthenware
Collection
The Novium Museum, Chichester
Scope
Stabilisation for storage and display

Before

Excavated earthenware vessel before conservation treatment, fragmented with failing earlier repairs.

After

Excavated earthenware vessel after conservation treatment: stabilised and re-bonded, with visible fills.

Condition

Highly friable body, heavily fragmented, with failing earlier repairs, detached sherds, running cracks and loose joins causing instability.

Treatment

  1. 01Surface dirt and residues of earlier restoration removed mechanically.
  2. 02Friable break edges consolidated with 5–10% Paraloid B-72 in acetone.
  3. 03Loose joins stabilised and detached sherds re-bonded with Paraloid B-72.
  4. 04Structural gaps filled selectively with a lightweight Paraloid B-72 and glass-microballoon fill.
  5. 05Excess adhesive and fill removed.

Process

Running crack and loose join in the earthenware vessel before consolidation.
Running crack and loose join before consolidation
Sherd labelled with Paraloid B-72 consolidant concentrations for comparison.
Consolidant concentration tests on a sherd (Paraloid B-72, 3–10%)
Gap-filling test using Paraloid B-72 and glass microballoons.
Gap-filling test: Paraloid B-72 with glass microballoons
Earthenware vessel supported with cotton gauze rolls during stabilisation.
Temporary support with cotton gauze rolls during stabilisation
Detail of the stabilised vessel rim showing visible fills.
After treatment: rim detail with visible fills

Outcome

A minimal treatment, using reversible or re-treatable materials where possible, that stabilised the vessel while respecting its archaeological context; fills remain visible for transparency.

Photographs: Sujin Jung.

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