To determine whether the Museum's sofa was one of the pair or perhaps actually the same sofa pictured in Antiquarian Magazine, conservation staff began a technical examination of the frame searching for evidence of previous carving on the seat rail. X-radiography revealed small brads related to now missing applied carving, modern upholstery nails, and some of the original nails used to attach the mouldings. Cross-section samples viewed under normal and ultraviolet light also showed evidence of ornament as well as a significant amount of restoration. Sample site, front rail near leg. Sample site, through microscope.
Arrow indicates location of brads attaching applied ornament to seat rail.
Arrow indicates the original gilded surface. Everything above is restoration. Conclusions Based on these findings, as well as a careful comparison of the upholstery patterns in the photographs, it was concluded that the Museum's sofa was indeed the same one published in 1930. The analysis also revealed that the applied ornament was added to the sofa during the first restoration campaign in the 19th century when a change in fashion dictated the more prolific use of ornament. Then, it is surmised that during the third restoration campaign, by Lewis and Son in the 1920's, the applied ornament was removed in an effort to reinterpret the sofa as the maker originally intended.