Lit Sung Goong Drum Conservation

Conservation of the drum was undertaken by conservators at ICS (International Conservation Services, Sydney)

Conservation treatment : Stage 1 and 2 Treatment Methodology

Skins   

** The original skin was too damaged and degraded and too small to stretch over the drum

• Surface clean, brush vacuumed, sponge cleaned and aqueous swab cleaning.
• Stabilised paint with Methyl Cellulose
• Flatten/humidified skin, initially under weights
• The skin was pressed under vacuum press
• The skin was so degraded that it was lined onto a temporary, toned tissue backing using starch paste.
• Adhered fabric skin to opening

Drum

– Surface cleaned surface of drum with dry and aqueous cleaning techniques
– Stabilise surface paint as possible
– Applied a protective varnish
– Stabilised corrosion on metal tacks
– Humidified and straightened drum ribs as best as possible
– Adhered ribs to each other where possible

Stage 3 – Aesthetic enhancement 

• The dragon painted drum skin additionally stabilised and attached to new velum skin with appropriate adhesive.
• The damages to the decorative dragon painting on the drum skin toned in to increase the readability of the image and allow appreciation for the original decoration.
• The vellum stretched as much as possible and attached to the drum to prevent the skin curling up again in the future.
• The losses to the red paint on the drum body re-touched 
• Additional cleaning od the second drum to help with preservation and increase longevity of the skin. The added benefit is improved aesthetic appearance of the painted decoration
• Tone in damage