Restoration
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa
Victoria Memorial Museum
Northern Art Glass icompleted a $400,000 restoration of historic stained and
leaded glass at the Museum of Nature. This project extended more than a year
and a half
in duration. We completed the rehabilitation of windows at the East,
West and three North entrances. Each entrance has stunning art glass designs
and includes exterior and interior sets
as shown below. We have also refurbished
128 panes of glass in bronze sashes for the atrium ceiling and restored leaded
glass door and transom panels on four floors of the museum.
East Entrance, Interior windows depicting canadian wildlife. This set of windows
was walled over when the dinosaur display was first set up and probably unseen
since 1905. We removed the glass to our studio and completed restoration.
West Entrance, Interior windows, restored and reinstalled.
West Entrance, Exterior windows, restored in situ.
Glass is cleaned with bristle brushes, deionized water and dental picks. Lead
is regrouted in situ to strengthen and patina. The turpentine and linseed oil
in the mixture bonds with and rejuvenates the existing grout. Microcrystaline
wax is applied to the cames to waterproof the panel and protect the finish.
The exterior windows are caulked with the correct masonry to glass sealant.
The finished product is shown on the right - interior view.
Exterior windows at the North entrance restored and protected.
Our on site work included months of work on scaffolding restoring fixed panels
at lower levels and weeks 60 feet up working from a Genie lift.
Monika and Blair at height and posing with their machine.
Leaded glass door and transom panels on four floors. Original glass
panels were restored. New panels were fabricated for missing panes
and new entranceways.