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Apparatus Bed ▪ Technical and material study

2019 Research

Furniture

Elaboration of a technical and material study of one canopy bed - "Cadaval" - furniture of large size, from the collection of the National Palace of Sintra (PNS6207), with wooden structure (blackwood), decorated with metallic elements in copper alloy, gilded copper alloy, silver alloy, gilded silver alloy, fixed to wood with silver alloy nails. The study includes sample collection, performance of appropriate examination and analysis methods, analysis and presentation of results.
The Silver Bed of the Dukes of Cadaval

Participants Archeofactu ~ Institute of Welding and Quality ~ National Laboratory of Energy and Geology ~ Higher Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisboa ~ Winterthur Museum, USA (Catherine Matsen) ~ Dias de Sousa, Corp.

Acknowledgements National Palace of Sintra ~ Parques de Sintra - Monte da Lua ~ Maria João Petisca, conservator-restorer

Diagram identifying the tiers and friezes comprising the bed's backrest.

Placing an element from a bouquet of flowers on the camera of the electron microscope.

X-radiography of a turned wooden piece in post.

Microphotographs of the altered surface of a fractured leaf from a bouquet of flowers.

Radiography of a bouquet of flowers and fruit showing the soldering on the two elements.

Radiography of cypress: the silver-alloy plates that form the shape are attached to the central vein.

Elements from a bouquet of flowers and fruit decorated by mercury gilding.

Bouquets of flowers and fruit: older (left), more recent (right) or subject to in-depth restoration.

Gilt copper piece (KV4) with a change to a possible protective layer causing brown colouration.

The detachable elements as they were assembled, accordingly to the final arrangement decided by the entity responsible for the bed's safeguarding.

Detail of the Cadaval bed before and after the intervention.

*Apparatus Bed*, after the intervention.