Student Blog: Philadelphia Museum of Art

​In September, I began my third-year internship placement in the objects conservation lab at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA). I am working under the supervision of objects conservators Sally Malenka, Melissa Meighan, and Kate Cuffari. My time at the PMA has greatly expanded my experience in carrying out the conservation treatment of objects of varying media. My projects have included Andy Warhol's screenprint on wood Brillo Boxes, a sixteenth-century enamel on copper goblet, and even an iridescent ceramic fly!

​One of my favorite projects was the conservation treatment of a framed marquetry panel. The panel was manufactured by Maison Giroux, a Parisian retailer of luxury goods that became known for a specialized and patented technique of creating a “mosaic" of engraved strips of metal, ivory, and marquetry. The panel was brought into the conservation lab in preparation for a rotation in the nineteenth-century gallery. The scene depicts a bird (specifically a bird of paradise!) on a maple branch in the Japonisme style popular in France at the end of the nineteenth century. The PMA gallery, titled “Complex Encounters," contextualizes European artworks shaped by the aesthetic influences of Japan and China and reflects upon the translations that took place between these cultures. ​

Before treatment, the object was in structurally stable condition but had several losses in the ivory and copper alloy. The surface of the panel and frame was also covered in a discolored transparent coating and a subsequent layer of grime. The first step was removing the frame from the panel in order to allow for a more complete surface cleaning. ​Removing the frame also revealed an area of brightly colored blue-green marquetry! This was always my favorite detail to show visitors to the conservation lab. I found it so exciting to imagine this object as it would have appeared at original fabrication. This area of marquetry would have been protected from light exposure which helped preserve the light sensitive colorants. 

A highlight of the treatment was creating fills for the losses in the copper alloy and ivory using toned Japanese paper. I used acrylic paints and gloss media to imitate the appearance of the panel's materials. I learned this technique during a WUDPAC second year objects major seminar and it was exciting to put these skills into practice.

This was one of my favorite treatment projects at the PMA not only because of the satisfying treatment results, but also because of the other connections working on this object allowed me to foster: from learning about the importance of case design and mountmaking from individuals in the exhibitions department to being a part of the installation process in the gallery. ​Working with the PMA conservation scientist, I also utilized scientific instruments to learn more about the object's construction and material make up.

My internship at the PMA has greatly broadened my conservation treatment and collections care experiences. Another great benefit of working in a large institution is being able to connect with the many other interns and fellows throughout the museum departments. I am excited to continue learning from the conservators and museum staff at the PMA with more projects to come!

— Elle Friedberg​, WUDPAC Class of 2023