Moro Shield

Spunjer · 21st July 2006, 12:32 PM

first of all, props to a great friend for finding this...

23" in diameter with rattan edge. what remains of the rattan strips are fragile. i don't even know where to start on how to preserve this. any suggestions and comments are welcome...

Spunjer · 21st July 2006, 12:34 PM

more pics...

Battara · 21st July 2006, 06:30 PM

Very nice. IN the earlier pictures you sent to me, I did not see the patterns in the front of the shield. I do notice that the back of the shield is not the usual Moro construction of up to the turn of the 20th c but seems to be of a later period.

mross · 21st July 2006, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

first of all, props to a great friend for finding this...

23" in diameter with rattan edge. what remains of the rattan strips are fragile. i don't even know where to start on how to preserve this. any suggestions and comments are welcome...

Ballistol.

Bill · 22nd July 2006, 12:32 AM

great shield. looks pretty old to me. ratten is pretty strong, do you think it is falling apart because it was stored in a hot attic (dry rot) or just careless storage over the years. let us know what you decide and how it comes out.

Spunjer · 22nd July 2006, 05:11 AM

battara,

it's really odd that the patterns are more distinct on the picture than it is on the real life. also, the handles and shield are all carved from a single piece.

mross,

Ballistol ???

bill,

yeah, you're right about rattan's resiliency. seen some pretty old kris with the original rattan binding still going strong. i guess this one wasn't taken care of

.the rattan pieces that fall off are actually brittle. i want to leave it as it is, but would like to preserve it without scrubbing off the patina. any suggestions?

Spunjer · 23rd July 2006, 02:08 PM

thanks for everyone's comments.

Bill · 24th July 2006, 12:48 AM

I don’t know what you should do. I think the first thing would be to identify why it is falling apart. Dry rot is a fungus disease caused by moisture with poor air circulation and periods of heat changes. From things I have read, you pretty much have what you have, it’s not going to get better; you can only stop it from getting worse. Deteriorating leather (red rot) usually recommends lanolin and neat's-foot oil. There is Renaissance Wax, I’m sure it would help but if a better solution came along it might be problematic once applied. Certainly would not be a bad thing for the wood. Here are a couple of links you might want to look at. http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/RenWax.html http://www.philobiblon.com/pressite.htm
There is a collection of essays "Caring for your collections" by Harry Abrams, but I have not read it. Maybe calling some conservators and seeing what they would do??

mross · 25th July 2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spunjer

mross,

Ballistol ???

http://www.ballistol.com/

It is good for wood, I have used it on all sorts of old wood and metal. It might be able to stablize the rattan. I would try it on a small spot and see if you like the results. I never had a problem with it. Sorry about the confusion my bad for assuming everyone had knew about it.

Spunjer · 26th July 2006, 12:58 AM

thanks for the input, vandoo and mross.

Bill M · 17th October 2006, 10:25 AM

Wow! Nice shield!

I have had some luck with the Balistol already suggested. Hope that you can get it stabilized.

21st July 2006, 12:32 PM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Moro Shield first of all, props to a great friend for finding this... 23" in diameter with rattan edge. what remains of the rattan strips are fragile. i don't even know where to start on how to preserve this. any suggestions and comments are welcome... Attached Images

21st July 2006, 12:34 PM	#2
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	more pics... Attached Images

21st July 2006, 06:30 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Very nice. IN the earlier pictures you sent to me, I did not see the patterns in the front of the shield. I do notice that the back of the shield is not the usual Moro construction of up to the turn of the 20th c but seems to be of a later period.

22nd July 2006, 12:32 AM	#5
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	great shield. looks pretty old to me. ratten is pretty strong, do you think it is falling apart because it was stored in a hot attic (dry rot) or just careless storage over the years. let us know what you decide and how it comes out.

22nd July 2006, 05:11 AM	#6
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	battara, it's really odd that the patterns are more distinct on the picture than it is on the real life. also, the handles and shield are all carved from a single piece. mross, Ballistol ??? bill, yeah, you're right about rattan's resiliency. seen some pretty old kris with the original rattan binding still going strong. i guess this one wasn't taken care of .the rattan pieces that fall off are actually brittle. i want to leave it as it is, but would like to preserve it without scrubbing off the patina. any suggestions?

23rd July 2006, 02:08 PM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	thanks for everyone's comments.

24th July 2006, 12:48 AM	#8
Bill Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chicago area Posts: 327	I don’t know what you should do. I think the first thing would be to identify why it is falling apart. Dry rot is a fungus disease caused by moisture with poor air circulation and periods of heat changes. From things I have read, you pretty much have what you have, it’s not going to get better; you can only stop it from getting worse. Deteriorating leather (red rot) usually recommends lanolin and neat's-foot oil. There is Renaissance Wax, I’m sure it would help but if a better solution came along it might be problematic once applied. Certainly would not be a bad thing for the wood. Here are a couple of links you might want to look at. http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/RenWax.html http://www.philobiblon.com/pressite.htm There is a collection of essays "Caring for your collections" by Harry Abrams, but I have not read it. Maybe calling some conservators and seeing what they would do??

26th July 2006, 12:58 AM	#10
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	thanks for the input, vandoo and mross.

17th October 2006, 10:25 AM	#11
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Wow! Nice shield! I have had some luck with the Balistol already suggested. Hope that you can get it stabilized.