©National Trust/3DX-Ray
Helen Fawbert and her team at Knole have recently spent a day x-raying some of the magnificent pieces of furniture in the house.
The x-ray equipment being set up. ©National Trust
This was part of the conservation work being done in the Reynolds Room at Knole, which I featured earlier.
©National Trust/3DX-Ray
X-radiography is a non-invasive technique that can reveal the construction, condition and previous repairs of antique furniture.
A torchère being x-rayed. ©National Trust
James Young of 3DX-Ray Ltd was called in to trial the process at Knole.
©National Trust/3DX-Ray
3DX-Ray’s equipment is portable and can be safely used in situations where the objects to be examined are fragile or difficult to access or move – particularly useful in the context of historic houses.
©National Trust/3DX-Ray
The resulting images were unexpectedly clear – and even beautiful in themselves – and revealed not just nails and screws but also layers of upholstery and even woodworm tunnels.
©National Trust/3DX-Ray
These images will be part of the initial assessment of the furniture in the Reynolds Room.
©National Trust/3DX-Ray
This will be followed by a physical examination of the pieces by a conservator, who will then put together a conservation plan.
©National Trust/3DX-Ray
The Reynolds Room project will be used as a model for the conservation work planned to take place all over the house during the next ten years.
June 23, 2011 at 11:22 |
Wow that’s amazing – how interesting to see inside the objects. I hope there is a plan to record this survey on our Collections Management System.
June 23, 2011 at 11:39 |
Absolutely fascinating! The legs and skirt of the blackamoor torchére is particularly compelling but all the images are beautiful – not the point of creating them, I know, but nonetheless quite beautiful. Has the National Trust considered selling limited editions of these images?
June 23, 2011 at 11:46 |
Alison, a very good point.
Barry, what a good idea – yes they are the perfect marriage between science and art, aren’t they?
June 23, 2011 at 12:32 |
The images are incredibly beautiful. Here tacks and horsehair look downright ethereal. Reminds me of LACMA’s X-Ray of a rug (Hali, a while back). And I think Barry is on to something — I can totally see designers snapping these up!
June 23, 2011 at 12:45 |
Courtney, yes I was remarking to someone that they have something of the stillness of early Daguerrotypes. I have just suggested to our Photo Library colleagues that they might be able to feature these images. I think credit should also go particularly to James Young of 3DX-Ray for the expert framing and composition of the images.
June 23, 2011 at 13:22 |
I am in full agreement with Barry and Courtney. These are exhibition worthy really-such an exciting way to think about the pieces-and especially the blackamoor-he comes to life in a completely new way. Please stay on the idea of images- What a book this would Make Emile!
June 23, 2011 at 14:02 |
Gaye, a book sounds like a good idea too. From what I have heard from the NT Photo Library colleagues they seem keen.
June 23, 2011 at 14:31 |
Emile I came over from Courtney’s and am astounded by these images. Absolutely fascinating details in these xrayed visions of historic pieces!
Xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
June 23, 2011 at 18:37 |
Wow! that is fascinating, it is interesting to see the insides of the objects.
June 23, 2011 at 18:43 |
Absolutely fascinating! I agree, these would make for interesting images in a home or office. The anatomy of furntiure via an x-ray is not only very informative, it also has somewhat of a whimsical feel too!
June 23, 2011 at 21:42 |
Karena, Cherie, Hamptontoes, thanks – yes these images seem to combine the exactitude of science with the romance of art.
June 24, 2011 at 07:49 |
I agree with the previous comments – NT/3D-Xray should try selling a series of prints to places like Habitat/IKEA/Heals – they could be a really big seller
June 24, 2011 at 08:17 |
Seeing beneath the surface is thrilling. I recently examined an 18th century oil painting, a potential purchase, under a strong ultraviolet lamp which revealed 30% of the painted surface had been restored or over-painted. No sale. These 3D X-rays of upholstered chairs are intriguing and artful but do set my teeth on edge just a bit.
June 24, 2011 at 08:31 |
Libby, yes some of those large screws look a bit painful – and in fact document the somewhat drastic repairs that were sometimes carried out in the past.
June 24, 2011 at 11:45 |
Very pleased that this exercise has created so much interest!
June 24, 2011 at 12:44 |
James, yes and you are increasingly being appreciated as an artist as well as a technician
June 24, 2011 at 20:01 |
What an amazing blog! Thank you and cheers from Estonia!
June 24, 2011 at 23:08 |
Absolutely enthralling and highly artistic in their own right. I look forward to the book ‘The Anatomy of Treasures’ – or similar.
June 25, 2011 at 09:05 |
Lanternativa, Jack, thanks! I think my colleagues and I were surprised at the strongly positive reactions to this post, but that is the value of blogs, that it allows people to register their response.
June 26, 2011 at 00:36 |
Just incredible! I will return to these photographs again and again. They are just beautiful. And I too, love their sense of whimsy!
June 26, 2011 at 15:02 |
My Dog-Eared Pages, thanks, and yes they look a bit like Man Ray solarised images, don’t they?
June 27, 2011 at 06:50 |
An incredible post. Thank you for sharing these ethereal images.
June 27, 2011 at 07:58 |
Lizzy, thanks. You, particularly, will know all about what goes on underneath the surfaces of furniture
June 27, 2011 at 10:40 |
May I recommend the extraordinary x-ray artworks of Nick Veasey, from flowers to vehicles (including a Boeing 777!) – see “Projects” here: http://www.nickveasey.com/
June 27, 2011 at 12:29 |
Once again, I see that I’m late to this party—but oh how fascinating, and indeed, beautiful
June 27, 2011 at 14:26 |
Andrew, thanks – I didn’t know x-ray photography was a genre
Down East, thank you too.
June 30, 2011 at 13:43 |
Very very nice images!
Portable Xradiography could be a great tool.
What safety measures are in place in view of Xrays radiating throughout the surrounding rooms?
June 30, 2011 at 13:46 |
John, thanks for your question, I will ask James Young of 3DX-Ray to comment on that.
June 30, 2011 at 17:19 |
John, as you rightly note, precautions have to be taken to ensure health and safety regulations are adhered to. This includes using the lowest power possible , ensuring that there is an appropriate sized safety cordon and being aware of what is going on around you at all times. In addition we have to be qualified as Radiation Protection Supervisors in order to do this kind of work. However, as long as procedures are properly adhered to there should be no safety issues.
July 3, 2011 at 14:00 |
Thanks for the x-ray photos…:) I do a lot of this old school upholstery….Thank God for air staplers!! pre-made edge roll and curve-ease… although some times it has to be done the old way….:)
tom coggio
check my web site….coggioupholstery.com
July 12, 2011 at 14:49 |
The most beautiful part of the images is the way they give you a window into the original composition of the furniture. It’s really appealing to think I’ve seen nails and screws that were put in place by hands that are so long gone.
July 12, 2011 at 16:52 |
Amy, quite so: there seems to be some kind of parallel between being able to glimpse things that you normally cannot see, and seeing objects that were made by people who are no longer there.
July 21, 2011 at 13:11 |
Really beautiful…. a totally different way of looking at things. Would love to see these for sale.
July 21, 2011 at 13:35 |
Bonnie, thank you. I have just been told that the technology of these portable devices does not at present allow for high-resolution images. So sadly we will not be able to feature them on our Photo Library – perhaps the next generation of these devices will provide higher resolution. But a book or an exhibition may still be a possibility.
August 4, 2011 at 12:44 |
Fascinating!!
August 4, 2011 at 12:49 |
Thanks Sandra – the popularity of this post has surpised both me and the colleagues at Knole!