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Restoration of the writing-set of William III of Orange, stadholder of the Netherlands In preparation for the exhibition in Amsterdam entitled "The Silver Wonder of the East. The Silver Filigree of the Russian Tsars" the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Precious Metals (headed by Igor Malkiyel) restored a writing-set that had belonged to William III of Orange, stadholder of the Netherlands. The set was made in India between 1672 and 1702. It is rectangular in shape with a flat hinged lid. A separate tray inside divides the box into two levels. The upper level has five compartments: one for envelopes, two for pens and another two (small and square) for an ink-well and sand-shaker. Below a drawer for paper pulls out on the right. The box was made from silver filigree employing volute- and spiral-shaped ornaments. On the lid is the coat-of-arms of the Princes of Orange. Attribution of this item remains difficult. The technique and stylistic peculiarities in the filigree-work indicate that the writing-set was most probably commissioned in the Portuguese colony of Goa in India. It was probably created as a diplomatic gift. The poor state of preservation of this item - there were cracks and gaps in the frame and deformation of the filigree elements; the partitions of the internal reservoir had come loose and the fastenings of the locks were broken; the chains opening the lid had snapped and the paper tray did not close - meant it could not be displayed. State-of-the-art laser welding was used in the restoration of this unique work of art. Much time was required to correct the deformation of the silver filigree elements of the piece. The restorers managed to weld the frame of the partition of the internal reservoir, the paper tray, chains and locks and to join seams on the decorative filigree panels. All the silver used in the filigree on the writing-set is very fine (0.925-0.960) and so lead and zinc were used as ligatures. Microscopic cracks and gaps in the filigree elements greatly complicated the process of laser welding and necessitated the selection of different welding rates for different parts of one object. |
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