284 Apuntes del Alcázar de Sevilla
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nglish
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It seems that the original paint protection was based on rosin and
mastic resins, but now the entire surface is painted with a dark col-
oured acrylic resin and in some areas with a layer of polyvinyl acetate
whose function we are not capable of understanding.
State of preservation
The long material history of the alfarje dates back several centuries
during which the processes of degradation and aging must have been
accelerated due to its hazardous material history. This includes occa-
sional relocations and storage, most of the times in unappropriated
environments. This is in addition of its placement in its new location,
which required a “repair and adaptation.” It is therefore logical that it
has profuse alterations both at structural level and in its coatings.
The new pieces are very numerous, especially in the northwest. Only
half of the jaldetas or minor beams are original and they are sectioned
at the height of the main beams on top of which are placed perpen-
dicularly, while the other half are new but positioned likewise so that
the original distribution of the loads is not met since these should span
wider sections. Fortunately, as we have already said, the ceiling is not
a floor slab nor does it support the weight of any roof and only fulfils
a decorative function, as well as being carved in a leafy wood of great
strength as the chestnut is. Precisely this woodwas usedwith the aimof
increasing the distance between main beams. The central main beams
are reinforced on their north sides withmetal plates and screws.
Although the surface affected by wood insects is very extensive,
there is no particular area where they are largely focused, and if there
was it was replaced. Some elements are also affected by brown rot;
this is very visible on the back side, which is no surprise if there was
not a proper ventilation.
As for the original polychrome, there are areas that remain fairly
well with good adhesion to support and some more numerous oth-
ers with heavy losses, cups, chippings, scrapes, etc. Some of these
losses are significant as they occur on top of unique motifs such as
character representations or heraldic emblems
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In this new arrangement, the entire area was also covered with a very
dark varnish that hid the new replacements, patches and alterations
in the polychrome and gave an aged tone achieving an apparent ho-
mogeneity but hiding the superb quality of the representations.
The truth is that such a maelstrom of pieces that have been moved
from one place to another and later additions and replacements do
not allow us to create a pattern and determine the extrinsic cause of
the deterioration; but the intrinsic one is the proper usual aging of
the materials composing it.
Intervention
Our main goal is to preserve and restore in compliance with the
guidelines set by the law on cultural heritage. To do this, we have
followed the previously marked intervention protocol after the as-
sessment of damages resulting from the preliminary report. So, to
review in depth the seat of the alfarje, it was necessary to disassem-
ble it and leave in situ only the structure of main beams and minor
beams, and removing the thick partitions to primarily focus on the
north and south ones, as those were the points where the abutments
of the main beams to the wall are, and also where we had already
seen—in the north side— the placement of two plates in the central
ones that were essential to inspect. After removing debris and neigh-
bouring pieces, there was not any sign of instability so we thought
that it was reinforced simply because it did not have the length con-
sidered appropriate, or just to reinforce the central area . Following
the inspection of the main beams, some small holes were drilled in
them to review their strength and verify that they were not infested
with wood-eating insects inside.
The consolidation of the pieces required a preliminary protection
prior to the polychromy which was badly damaged in some ar-
eas. With this guarantee we proceeded to both the structural and
chemical consolidation and to remove all foreign elements in the
original structure that were damaging the pieces or the ones which
had ceased to fulfil their function, such as nails and rusty staples,
outdated electric wiring, inadequate replacements, etc. In this struc-
tural consolidation, both at a functional and supporting levels, the
volumetric reintegration of new pieces or the recovery of volumes
was carried out almost one hundred percent on the basis of stability
criteria while aesthetic criteria was kept to a minimum percentage,
i.e. when any losses distorted the visualization of the area. For this,
recycled wood from other interventions in the Alcazar and the com-
bination of sawdust + APV, epoxy resin and pine wood were largely
used, depending on the need or surface to fill.
Cracks, fissures and large fissures have been sealed with wood epoxy
resin and/or pine or balsa wood, while beech wood dowel and APV
as an adhesive have been used for detached and new elements.
Wood type stainless steel screws have been used to replace the for-
mer lost or removed nails.
The chemical consolidation was made via an impregnation with a
brush and injection of a solution of ethyl methacrylate copolymer
and methyl acrylate in butyl acetate.
Anti-wood insect treatment and disinfection has been applied over
the entire surface on the back with a mixture composed by 0.4%
permethrin and 1.2% diclofluanide in a solution of organic dissolvent
applied by injection and impregnation in several coats wet upon wet
until saturation.
Before proceeding to the chemical cleaning, a superficial cleaning
of the debris adhered onto the surface was performed, as well as fix-
ing the polychrome strata potentially shedding caused by cups, bags,
peeling or dusting, with a hot palette knife and colletta or injection
of acrylic resin depending on the needs of each area.
Chemical cleaning of the thick layer of dark varnish, isolated re-
paints in the central area and the remains of APV on the polychrome
were removed using acetone impregnated pads and swabs and a very
controlled paint stripper. Alcohol was also used to eliminate the last
remnants of dirt in contact with polychromy.
Chromatic reinstatement has been limited to new areas which, due
to the cleaning or having been newly included, were very visible be-
cause of the wood light colour, performing it with flat ink and water
technique. Final protection was carried out using acrylic polymer at
very low concentrations.
MDF panels been placed in substitution for chipboards in bad con-
dition for the protection of the alfarje upper part or reverse once
all pieces had been assembled. The placement allows an easy panel
removal for allowing regular inspections.
