The curious case of the sparkling Widgery.
A customer called in the other day with a curious quandary. Why did the Victorian watercolour he purchased at auction have glitter all over it? He loved the painting but the glitter was detracting from the painting. Could I help?
After removing the frame, I set to work removing the glitter. It became apparent to me that someone had tried to do some restoration work on the gouache clouds, but had possibly used pastels and then perhaps thought they should fix it with hairspray. then only after spraying did they realise the hairspray had glitter in it. Well that’s the only explanation I can think of.
The Widgery is now de-glittered and fixed with proper fixative. The customer was delighted. Never thought I would say that I have been de-glittering a Widgery! Hmm life is never dull in the art world.
Please leave art restoration to the professionals!
