Author Topic: Conservation of a U.S. M1838 24-pdr Coehorn, and a U.S. M1857 12-pdr Napoleon (Read 973 times)

Cannoneer · « **on:** April 12, 2010, 11:39:36 AM »

This outfit did a fine job on the Coehorn bed and Napoleon carriage, but once again here's an example of a conservation company bringing an historic bronze CW cannon to a high polish. It is stated plainly in the text as to why it was done, (The bronze was polished, as per curatorial request, to return the Napoleon 12-pounder to an “in-use” appearance based upon period descriptions of artillery during the Civil War.") after all this company exists to make money; but what's hard to figure is why the "curatorial reguest" in the first place? It is also stated in the text that "the barrel was found to have been deeply etched by “acid rain” which had occurred during years of outdoor display prior to museum acquisition"; so does that mean that this tube was polished to the extent that enough metal was removed from the surface of the tube to obliterate all of the incised scars caused by "acid rain"? If so, that would be a shame, and that's what the photograghs would seem to indicate (that is if the description of the barrel being "deeply etched" is accurate). Notice Thomas Jackson Rodman's initials on the Napoleon's muzzle face. Conservation of two CW artillery pieces