to the intarsia panel so that none of the adjacent boards, which had frag-
mentary deterioration at the sides, required removal (Fig. 15).The polychrome coffered ceiling, in keeping with fifteenth-century practice
and similar to the ceiling in the Urbino studiolo, had been constructed from
poplar (Populusspp.) with very little wood joinery but with an abundance of
handwrought nails (Figs. 16, 17) (Luchinat 1992:23–27; Rotondi 1973).
The nailing system ofthe ceiling contributed to the fairly well
preserved structure of the ceiling components. Areas of extensive former
woodworm infestation, however, needed conservation treatment. The ceil-
ing had been restored and expanded with fir, although the original wood
was poplar. The nineteenth- and twentieth-century polychrome restora-
tions were badly discolored and flaking, while the fragmentary remaining
fifteenth-century paint was fairly well preserved under a layer of grime.The infested areas of the ceiling components needed to be treated in order
to preserve the ceiling and to ensure safe display at a height of 5.3 m.
Consolidation with synthetic resin was considered but not executed because
this plan would have substantially increased the weight of the ceiling.
Instead, a mechanical system was devised to support the infested areas from
above the polychrome hexagons. Steel plates of the proper shape were
welded to a 20 cm piece of threaded steel.^21 These plates were mounted
above the hexagons, with their thread through the backing. The nineteenth-
century beams bore the weight by means of smaller aluminum crossbars.Treatment of the Ceiling
and Polychrome ElementsCeiling and Polychrome
Elements490 Wilmering
Figure 15
Reverse of panel 9–10 top. The new board is
in place, and new battens have been attached.
The substantial damage to the lower board
was not treated; the gap in the center was
filled, however, with sections of balsa placed
without adhesive.