basket

Basket, Before Treatment

Losses in the basket's rim reveal broken and protruding metal wiring underneath weave elements.

Basket, During Treatment

Protruding wires were bent back into shape using pliers. Polyester thread was used to bind the wires to sound areas of the basket's walls between weave elements. Twisted strands of Japanese tissue were wrapped around exposed wire with wheat starch paste to build up volume around lost sections of the rim.

Basket, After Treatment

Strips of Japanese tissue were toned with acrylic paint and wax to produce a sympathetic colour and sheen. These strips were adhered overtop of the wound Japanese tissue to mimic the appearance of the surrounding, intact sections of the rim.

Basket, Before Treatment (Detail)

Detail photo of broken section of rim.

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Basket, After Treatment (Detail)

Detail photo of repaired section of rim.

The treatment of this Northwest Coast basket was a private project done through conservation firm Revival Conservators. The goal of this treatment was to clean the basket, stabilize breakage around the rim, and create sympathetic fills for lost areas.

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