Queen Kapi'olani Desk

Accession #F.548.1

'Iolani Palace
Honolulu, Hawai'i

 

Major areas of concern: Exterior finished surfaces, overpaint on gilding, loose veneers, shrinkage of secondary woods, and broken joinery.  
 

Left rear leg broken off at case.

 

Leg top previously repaired with two 1/4" dowels.
Center hole drilled out from original 3/8" dowel.
New 3/4" dowel installed with hot hide glue.
 


Secondary wood of upper surface at the top right corner/end had shrunk causing the overlaying veneers to crack and buckle (with some losses) and was uneven with rough exposed edges.

After consolidation of loose veneers and structural components.

 

Glass swivel casters had been installed into leg bottoms. The steel stems had rusted and expanded into the wood. It was necessary to core a hole around each to remove, then dowel plug the holes.

 

 

Many areas of the gilt details had been overpainted with "gold" paint which had oxidized and become discolored.
Piece was somewhat soiled and some of the finish had been worn away from edges and other areas.

 

Above:
Left side: before removal of the bronze based paint. Right side: what remains of the original shellac covered gilding.

 

 

After repairs, cleaning of gilded passages and finished surfaces, the entire piece was French polished with orange shellac.

Desk is now in the Queen's bedroom, 'Iolani Palace.

'Iolani Palace Web Site

Short Article in Honolulu Star Bulletin

Quicktime VR Panorama Of Queen's Bedroom The Honolulu Star Bulletin

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