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Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Jain Shrine—Now on Display!

by Kelly Rectenwald, Objects Conservator

9/14/2023

behind the scenes , objects conservation , CAMConservation , Jain Shrine

Our Jain shrine is finally on display in the Anu and Shekhar Mitra Gallery of South Asian Art!

If you’ve been following our Conservation blog posts, you may have seen several updates as we carried out treatment over the past two years. We undertook a complex treatment to remove a very dark and degraded coating that covered the original painted and gilt details from each of the over 44 disassembled parts. Our installation and conservation departments worked together to reassemble the shrine which stands more than seven feet tall. You can now see the entire shrine completely reassembled with its beautiful colorful details now revealed.

Check out the museum blog to see how it started, and watch the video below to learn more about the restoration!

 

Devotional Shrine Used in a Jain Household (ghar derasar), 1700–1899, India, Gujarat, carved wood painted and gilded, The William T. and Louise Taft Semple Collection, 1962.459

Devotional Shrine Used in a Jain Household (ghar derasar), 1700–1899, India, Gujarat, carved wood painted and gilded, The William T. and Louise Taft Semple Collection, 1962.459

Devotional Shrine Used in a Jain Household (ghar derasar), 1700–1899, India, Gujarat, carved wood painted and gilded, The William T. and Louise Taft Semple Collection, 1962.459

Devotional Shrine Used in a Jain Household (ghar derasar), 1700–1899, India, Gujarat, carved wood painted and gilded, The William T. and Louise Taft Semple Collection, 1962.459

Devotional Shrine Used in a Jain Household (ghar derasar), 1700–1899, India, Gujarat, carved wood painted and gilded, The William T. and Louise Taft Semple Collection, 1962.459

Devotional Shrine Used in a Jain Household (ghar derasar), 1700–1899, India, Gujarat, carved wood painted and gilded, The William T. and Louise Taft Semple Collection, 1962.459

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