Restored Artwork of a Detailed Gingerbread Clock and Its Dial
In the world of clock conservation, dial inpainting is a meticulous art that carefully recreates missing or damaged painted areas on a clock dial. This technique was recently employed during the restoration of a 1918 Arthur Pequegnat Canuck time and strike gingerbread clock.
The project involved a dial with considerable paint loss, script numerals, and a chapter ring consisting of small dashes with a 4-dot pattern every 5 minutes. The supplies used for the project included a Level 3 - 10/0 spotter artist's paintbrush, a #2 artist's paintbrush, satin finish water-based acrylic paints in white, yellow, red, and blue, black paint for numerals, a Pitt artist's pen with a fine tip, a pencil eraser, toothpicks for mixing paint, Q-Tips to remove over-painted areas, and a woodblock.
The process began with a thorough assessment and documentation of the dial's condition. Conservators noted areas of paint loss, flaking, or fading and made detailed documentation—photographs and condition reports—to guide treatment and record the dial's historic state.
The dial surface was gently cleaned using methods like enzyme cleaning to remove dirt and chalky residues without damaging existing paint layers. This step revealed areas where paint was unstable or worn, determining if overpainting was necessary.
Where paint was loose or flaking, edges were carefully consolidated or trimmed back to sound material. Conventional barrier layers between old and new paint were avoided to reduce interfaces that could cause future failures.
A primer may have been applied to prepare the surface for inpainting, ensuring good adhesion and color retention of new paint layers. The actual inpainting involved carefully applying new paint to damaged or faded areas to visually reintegrate the image, matching color and texture to the original. Minimal overpainting was preferred to preserve as much original decoration as possible.
White was used as the base paint, and other colors were mixed to replicate the aged finish of the dial. The numbers were in reasonably good shape, and it took a steady hand to fill in the missing sections, especially the dashes on the chapter ring.
After inpainting, protective coatings may have been applied to stabilize the surface and reduce future deterioration, always with compatible materials. The final results of dial inpainting can range from fair to excellent, and in some cases, it is an option for clocks with too much damage.
The brass bezel was cleaned with Q-Tips and Brasso during the project. This method aims for a balance between aesthetics—making the dial visually complete—and conservation principles by minimizing intervention and facilitating reversibility. The process is highly tailored, depending on the dial’s condition and the significance of its original decorative schemes.
American antique clocks dials are good candidates for dial inpainting, and the final results can breathe new life into these historical treasures. In this particular project, the infilled areas and touched-up numbers can be seen upon close examination, but from average viewing distance, it is difficult to tell. The restored Pequegnat Canuck clock now stands as a testament to the skill and artistry involved in dial inpainting.
[1] For more information on dial restoration and conservation, please refer to the resources provided in the footnotes.
Footnotes:
[1] For further reading on dial restoration and conservation, please consult the following resources:
- 'The Care and Conservation of Clocks' by David Harrison (2016)
- 'Clock and Watch Repair' by George Williamson (2006)
- 'The Conservation of Clocks and Watches' by Robin O'Brien (2009)
