The Sgabello set, comprising two chairs (sgabello) and a matching table, is an early work by Carlo Bugatti, Milan, c. 1885. The furniture is made of European walnut and inlaid with insect motifs and geometric patterns in ivory, zinc, brass and copper. The black sections are stained walnut. There are also round, chiselled copper plates.
Damage requiring restoration
Most of the damage was caused by shrinkage. This shrinkage of the wood had caused the tabletop to crack and warp. The metal and ivory inlays had also become partially loose, partly as a result of the wood’s shrinkage. There was also damage caused by wear and tear, which manifested itself in the form of rings, dents and a worn-away finish.
Work carried out:
Table
Woodworm has been treated in a low-oxygen environment – The tabletop has been dismantled – The crack in the tabletop has been restored by removing wood from the ends of the crack, allowing it to be glued without tension – The warping in the tabletop has been straightened- More than 100 missing pieces of inlay, consisting of (a great deal of) copper, ivory and zinc, have been recreated and glued in place using hide glue- The newly inserted zinc has been patinated with oxalic acid (before insertion)- All loose inlay work has been re-glued using cold-applied hide glue- The rings and stains outside the circle of the inlay have been removed with oxalic acid – The varnish residues were removed with alcohol- The faded black areas were recoloured with Orasol- The brown areas were coloured slightly darker with Van Dyke’s brown- Finished with a buffing coat of shellac and a final finish of beeswax- Felt glides fitted.
Two chairs (Sgabelli)
The seat and backrest have been dismantled – Approx. 5 m of missing brass piping has been recreated, fitted and glued in place using hide glue – The ivory and zinc inlay has been completed and glued in place using hide glue
