White lead

I have a superb 18th century Boston, Massachusetts desk with
interior letterhole compartments retaining original paint with its
drying oil and white lead, Prussian blue and chalk  pigments. There
is a later, virtually identical but fairly thin overpaint with
generally similar pigmentation lying on top of this. Both layers are
relatively thin, both appear to be heavily cross-linked.

I'd appreciate any suggestions for safe, controllable removal of the
overpaint. I've tried a full range of solvent gels and mixtures.

Robert Mussey
Robert Mussey Associates, Boston, Mass.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 15:51
                Distributed: Wednesday, January 23, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-15-51-015
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