Platinum leaf

We have discovered platinum leaf in some quantity in one of our late
19th century historic houses. It is used for a fine, foliate design
on painted canvas panels that are adhered to the ceiling. It is also
used as the silver-colored  background for a series of large wall
panels upon which are painted muses. The ceiling material was
identified using SEM (Williamstown Art Conservation Center) and the
wall material using a portable XRF machine (Winterthur Museum
analytical lab). Is this at all common? Is anyone aware of any other
historic houses where platinum leaf has been used for the
silver-colored surfaces?

Charles J. Moore
Chief Conservator
The Preservation Society of Newport County
401-846-0783
Fax: 401-847-1361


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:24
                 Distributed: Friday, November 3, 2006
                       Message Id: cdl-20-24-022
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