Restauration de l'appartement de madame Du Barry // Restoration of Madame Du Barry's apartment

Restoration of Madame du Barry's Apartment

Overview of the Restoration Project

• The restoration project is progressing well with 9 months remaining, focusing on 13 rooms in Madame du Barry's apartment. This presents a significant challenge due to the scale of work involved.

• Recent cleaning efforts uncovered an underlying layer of decor from the original design, indicating a rich historical context that needs to be preserved.

Historical Insights into Decor

• The original decor from the 1730s featured sculpted designs in white over green, contrasting with later additions of blue over white backgrounds. This highlights the evolution of aesthetic choices over time.

• Initial tests were conducted to assess how well the original decor has held up and its installation methods, providing insights into preservation techniques.

Restoration Techniques and Processes

• In restoring the second antechamber, missing medallions are being addressed; some decorative elements have been lost over time, necessitating careful restoration efforts. The first step involves restoring surviving pieces for approval before casting replacements.

• A plaster cast is being created using a silicon mold taken from original decor elements to reproduce missing pieces accurately, ensuring fidelity to historical details. The process includes layering oakum fibers for strength and lightness in the cast.

Woodwork Restoration Details

• Comprehensive restoration includes woodwork such as wall panels and doors; this involves filling holes and tightening additional pieces while maintaining consistency in wood type (oak) for authenticity.

• Shimming techniques are employed to address unevenness in wood surfaces, allowing restored sections to blend seamlessly with existing structures once carved appropriately. This meticulous approach ensures structural integrity and visual harmony.

Specific Room Restorations

• Significant work is underway in transforming a bathroom area by starting from scratch on surface decor rather than relying on remnants from previous colors or styles seen in other rooms. This allows for a fresh yet historically informed design approach.

• Efforts focus on accurately representing original color schemes—white and blue—as they had faded into yellow and green hues over time; recent swatches have been approved to guide this restoration effort effectively.

Techniques for Paint Removal

• In the Grand Cabinet area, paint removal is achieved using diluted hide glue applied warm; this method strengthens undercoats while carefully stripping away layers without damaging underlying materials or finishes that date back to Madame du Barry’s era.

• The goal during restoration is not only recovery but also preserving charm and warmth within these spaces so that they retain their historical allure rather than appearing brand new post-restoration efforts—a key aspect of Versailles' intimate living areas’ appeal.