Shagreen

Emily Lin <nilylime [at] hotmail__com> writes

>I am a student of the art conservation program at Queen's
>University. I am writing to request sources of shagreen for the
>microscope box that I am treating. The box has a shagreen covering,
>which was dyed green, and much of it has been lost.
>
>In a previous posting on this list, I learned that shagreen consists
>of the untanned skin of sharks, with the placoid scales being
>smoothened and polished.

Just a quick word of advice about shagreen which comprises the
(usually dyed green) skins of many different species of elasmobranch
fishes.  I would suggest that you show a sample or send a photo
(with measuring scale) to a local icthyologist.  Rhomboidal scales
tend to be from rays and circular from sharks.  The are many books
on the subject and Jean Peffertini's Le Galuchat is quite useful
(publisher: Vial) but is in French. I have come across areas of
textured and painted resin where some rather unethical restoration
was carried out.

Simon Moore, MIScT, FLS, ACR,
Senior Conservator of Natural Sciences
Hampshire County Council
Recreation and Heritage Department
Museums and Archives Service
Chilcomb House, Chilcomb Lane
Winchester SO23 8RD, UK
+44 1962 826737


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:56
                  Distributed: Friday, April 18, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-56-006
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