an insight into museums and collections

B.I · 26th May 2005, 04:18 PM

ive attached an image of one of the pieces in the collection. this wasnt one i had pulled aside for the conservation team, as by then i thought i was pushing my luck. the environment is controlled now, and so any rust that has eaten in has done its damage and its spread will be slower.
i wont post any other pictures, and have cropped this to just show the gory details. with the omittence of the museums name, i am happy i am not breaking confidence by posting this.
the piece is an early pata. probably dates from the early 17thC (possibly slightly earlier), although its decoration (but not so much the form) goes into the late 16thC. always assumed as tanjore (or mysore in other cases) as most dont look further than these two districts. the style of decoration is more remeniscent of vellor, and in some ways madurai (although the chisselwork was finer) and the temples of both areas reflect this decoration.
this piece is completly covered in silver (blackened with tarnish) and the live rust has eaten below the silver and is pushing it out. the silver was flaking off in my hands as i held it and it was obvious it was a recent thing.
shocking picture, especially when you know it this wasnt the worst.

26th May 2005, 04:18 PM	#13
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	ive attached an image of one of the pieces in the collection. this wasnt one i had pulled aside for the conservation team, as by then i thought i was pushing my luck. the environment is controlled now, and so any rust that has eaten in has done its damage and its spread will be slower. i wont post any other pictures, and have cropped this to just show the gory details. with the omittence of the museums name, i am happy i am not breaking confidence by posting this. the piece is an early pata. probably dates from the early 17thC (possibly slightly earlier), although its decoration (but not so much the form) goes into the late 16thC. always assumed as tanjore (or mysore in other cases) as most dont look further than these two districts. the style of decoration is more remeniscent of vellor, and in some ways madurai (although the chisselwork was finer) and the temples of both areas reflect this decoration. this piece is completly covered in silver (blackened with tarnish) and the live rust has eaten below the silver and is pushing it out. the silver was flaking off in my hands as i held it and it was obvious it was a recent thing. shocking picture, especially when you know it this wasnt the worst. Attached Images