Before, during and after treatment.
The Rensselaer County Historical Society (www.rchsonline.org) was awarded
conservation grant funding in 2002 for the treatment of
military artifacts that were to be exhibited. The group
of items included a saddle, cadet shell jacket,
overcoat, banner, and two Red Cross WWI and WWII
uniforms.
The center curve of the saddle was dramatically deformed
due to the lack of padding on the old mount. As with
previously treated saddles, it was decided early on in the
treatment that the current mount was unacceptable and
should be retrofitted to resemble a horse in shape. The
inside shape of the saddle was measured and a mount was
carved of Ethafoam and covered with batting. Additional
layers of batting were used to further support specific
areas and fill out the body of the "horse." The final stage
was to cover the mount with a show fabric chosen to blend
with the blanket of the saddle.
Next, the saddle was in need of humidification and
reforming to resemble a saddle again. In order to reshape
the saddle, it was first placed in a vapor chamber until
the stiff leather was significantly relaxed and then placed
on the newly constructed mount . The saddle was then made
to conform to the rounded shape of the new mount with wide
muslin straps. This was left for several days (see above).
Holes located in the blanket of the saddle were stabilized
with small cotton patches in a color that blended.