McLoughlin House Furniture Conservation

This rocking chair, which was owned by Dr. John McLoughlin, was conserved by Jon Brandon in the summer of 2010

NPS PHOTO

In 2008, a National Park Service conservator assessed the wooden items on display at the McLoughlin House, particularly focusing on furniture. Several pieces were identified as high priorities for conservation, based both on their condition and their association with the McLoughlin family. In the summer of 2010, six items were conserved: a tea canister, dining table, chest of drawers, rocking chair, bookcase, and marble-top table. Most of the items were owned by Dr. John McLoughlin or members of his immediate family.

The conservation work was done by Jon Brandon of East Point Conservation in Brunswick, Maine. Rather than shipping the objects back to their facility, Jon agreed to treat them in a temporary conservation lab created in the upstair hallway of the McLoughlin House. Though some of the treatments had to be done while the house was empty, for safety reasons, Jon often worked on the pieces while the house was open. The work of museum professionals is often hidden from the public and this created an opportunity for visitors to see conservation in action, to ask questions, and for Jon to educate them about furniture preservation and conservation techniques.

 

Jon Brandon's conservation laboratory in the upstairs hall of the McLoughlin House

NPS PHOTO