8è Partie. A French Horse Racing Game – Final by Ségolène Girard

Restoration of a 19th c. lottery game by M.J & Cie.

8è Partie. A French Horse Racing Game – Final by Ségolène Girard


Seg is speaking !

Hello everyone ! Because now I know I am not speaking all alone (ha ha) actually I was lately saying to Brittany that I thought I was only writing these articles for her (and that I was still happy to do it), and two or three friends of mine. But she told me to look in the insights of the blog, and….to the 90 people that read my last post, and to the others (maybe more) that read my former posts ; I am so very flattered !

It’s been exactly a year after I first started writing on this blog thanks to the spot Brittany allowed me to have. It was also at about the same moment that I met her so that is very significant for me, and probably an important date on the calendar for both of us. But that you will know about in time. So yes it makes me sad, and at the same time very happy to write that last article about the Horse Racing Game, at the same time the end and the beginning of even more great things to share with you people ! So much happened within a year.

Now, the last pictures of the Horse Racing Game with before/after restoration comparisons (I know you all love this, we all do). Enjoy !

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The plateau before and after treatment of the felt, stabilization of the rust, and fixing of the flaking paint :

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.54.20Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.53.03_________________________________________________________________________

A sight of the cardboard of the base that I had to change ;

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.54.42

Remember all the mold it was suffering from ;

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 23.01.32Now with a new non-acid cardboard, and an extension of the flaps that were missing from the base papers. I replaced them and colored them to merge with the originals ;

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.52.23And here is a closer view of the aspect of the paper and the details of the plaque. Remember also that golden papers had all to be replaced, you can see the final result here :

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.52.39_______________________________________________________________________

The cardboard lid was extremely warped. Thanks to the dampening room, weights and patience, I got excellent results as you can see on the following pictures :

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.54.03Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.51.36

Unstucking the papers thanks to the Gore-tex® process allowed me to regain the original flatness and resorb the folds and deformations of the paper. These pictures also gives you the comparison before-after dusting, cleaning and bathes that the papers had been subjects of ;

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.53.46Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.53.23________________________________________________________________________

The pinky-greyish marks are the result of passage of time. I decided not to touch them as I feel that we already get the best results of the original colours with the cleaning process. Nevertheless, I of course executed retouches on the pieces of papers added in order to fill the torn and missing parts. Yet, they are executed in a slightly different tone to let appear the restoration. As part of our ethics, we are not pretending that our restoration never occurred. We are here to extend the life of the object, and if possible, allow a better appreciation of it.

There, on the left and right sides of the corner, and even a tiny piece in the point of the angle.

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 22.50.36And here, visible when close, but invisible when at one meter of distance :

Capture d’écran 2014-05-06 à 23.20.15

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Et voilà :

IMG_4443IMG_4443 copie IMG_4430 copie Capture d’écran 2013-05-06 à 00.30.33 Capture d’écran 2013-05-06 à 00.33.15

Previous: 7è Partie. A French Horse Racing Game -Conservation (Part II)

Read Also: Conserving a papier-mâché barking bulldog

12 thoughts on “8è Partie. A French Horse Racing Game – Final by Ségolène Girard

  1. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about your restoration of this game. I have a love of antiques, but, much to my dismay not the budget to match. I have since thought about making a game like this, but I have no knowledge of the mechanism. Is there anywhere that explains in detail how it is put together?

    1. Thank you Erin ! It is a pretty simple “play” – if i may say- of springs. If you send me your mail, the best I can do is sending you more pictures of the inside, I think you will figure out quite well how it is built. Also, I recommend checking on the past articles, I made a few sketches, that if not the best might help too !
      Have fun with your project !

      1. Segolene,
        I have read your articles and loved them. Great job! Can you send me more photos of the inside mechanisms? If possible a picture of each gear and the center post they all go together on? Thank you so much.

  2. Hello Ségolène,
    Thankyou for your time and effort in sharing your experience. I have enjoyed following the process greatly and look forward to your next challenge and hope you kindly share again. Well done on a first class conservation.

    1. Hello Conwae,
      It has been a real pleasure writing these articles, and I hope I gave of my enthusiasm through them. But more than this I particularly appreciate that you liked them !

  3. Thanks for the whole series Seg’s. It has been a wonderful insight into the world of restoration.
    To finish with a question.
    Is it fun to play with now it looks and works again?

    1. Thank you so much Micheal ! I am glad you enjoyed this and could have an idea of restoration while keeping a part of mystery to it.
      To answer your question, well I must say I pulled the trigger quite reasonably, but I should definitely organize a gambling night with friends, as gambling on my own would not be as fun !

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