Condition
The yellow figure was holding a bowl which was broken, with one large and one small piece retained, and the remaining fragments missing. The headdress and collar were also chipped. ICS conservators noticed that this figure had pre-existing firing cracks in the base which required no treatment.
The green figure had a damaged headdress, with four fragments retained and other small pieces missing. The small plinth at the front that was detached, with clean break edges and minimal losses. Conservators also noted minor chips on the base of this figure.
Treatment
ICS conservators dusted the figures in preparation for the bonding repairs. Next, the broken edges were consolidated, and fragments were bonded with a conservation-grade acrylic resin.
Structural and surface losses were then filled and refined. Finally, conservators retouched areas of lost decoration to match the original colour and gloss.
Outcomes
The terracotta figures responded very well to treatment, and can once more be viewed and appreciated in their original grandeur.
Before treatment
After treatment
