Sheep and Maidens - Alabaster and Marble Sculpture

This alabaster and marble sculpture was brought in by a private client on one of Artlab’s Consultation Days.

Whilst little was known regarding its provenance and the piece is unsigned, the style, material and execution share some similarities with European art objects from 18th to 19th century. Carved from several pieced-together sections of polychrome marble and alabaster, the group portrays two newly shorn sheep accompanied by two rural maidens. The skilful carving and use of different materials brings out both the different textures of the fleece and clothing, as well as the movement conveyed in the dress drapery.

As well as some considerable surface dust and cobweb accumulation in the carved details, the sheep were missing their ears with just three stumps remaining. Artlab’s Projects Conservator Abby Maxwell-Bowen took on the treatment of the piece, as she has considerable experience with working on alabaster and marble objects.

Conservation Treatment
Close examination revealed that the head of one sheep had been knocked off and crudely repaired in the past – holes had been drilled into the head and neck. The head, whilst soundly attached, was slightly misaligned and a dark ring of discoloured adhesive was evident. Other modelling details of the piece (the parasols ends in the basket) are also missing, these do not disrupt the lines of the group as much as the missing ears, since the faces are a focal point.

It was agreed that the work would receive a light clean and the three missing ears would be modelled up in a suitable material, sanded into shape and in-painted to match the adjacent colours. The distracting holes would also be filled with a similar material, to return the sheep to something closer to their original appearance. At the same time the excess old adhesive would be removed and the misalignment disguised with the missing detail to the collar reintroduced and in-painted.

As no images of the group prior to damage were available, and only one original ear remained, some research into sheep ears was necessary in order to produce ears that were suitably authentic-looking. This was particularly important as the owner of the work had previously kept sheep and Abby was very aware that her client would therefore be very alert to an unconvincing ‘incorrect’ ear! Finally the piece was given a light coating of protective wax.

Abby documented the treatment progress throughout, so that the treatment, original and replaced elements were all recorded for future reference.