Warne Ballroom at the Cosmos Club Historic Preservation The Townsend mansion was renovated c. 1900 by architects Carrère and Hastings and interior designer Jules Allard et Fils. More than 100 years later, the Cosmos Club sought to restore the mansion’s Louis XV-style ballroom by addressing moisture issues and outdated repairs. The goal was to conserve much of the historic fabric while preserving the character of the room as it was from 1901-1915. Restoration work was completed within 9 months. All plaster elements were restored without guesswork by repairing in place or using molds for replication. Paint analysis revealed 3 gilding types: water, oil, and Roman. The team used solvents to reveal the original gilded finishes in many areas. Where solvents were unsuccessful or the original gilding was damaged, those surfaces were re-gilded using traditional materials and techniques. Sconces were rewired and restored with crystal elements matching those of the existing chandelier. Discolored varnish, years of grime, and poorly executed restorations had darkened all the paintings. Dirt, varnish and overpaint were all removed and inpainted with reversible paints. Aaslestaad Benson Photography
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Warne Ballroom at the Cosmos ClubHistoric Preservation
The Townsend mansion was renovated c. 1900 by architects Carrère and Hastings and interior designer Jules Allard et Fils. More than 100 years later, the Cosmos Club sought to restore the mansion’s Louis XV-style ballroom by addressing moisture issues and outdated repairs. The goal was to conserve much of the historic fabric while preserving the character of the room as it was from 1901-1915. Restoration work was completed within 9 months. All plaster elements were restored without guesswork by repairing in place or using molds for replication. Paint analysis revealed 3 gilding types: water, oil, and Roman. The team used solvents to reveal the original gilded finishes in many areas. Where solvents were unsuccessful or the original gilding was damaged, those surfaces were re-gilded using traditional materials and techniques. Sconces were rewired and restored with crystal elements matching those of the existing chandelier. Discolored varnish, years of grime, and poorly executed restorations had darkened all the paintings. Dirt, varnish and overpaint were all removed and inpainted with reversible paints.
Aaslestaad
Benson Photography
Plaster Deterioration
Benson Photography
Benson Photography
Gilding
Benson Photography
Benson Photography
Sconces
1910 Photo of the Sconce Inversed to show details Restored
1910 Photo of the Sconces
Restored
Before Restoration After Restoration
Fine Art Conservation
Lunettes before restoration
West lunette before cleaning
East lunette before cleaning East lunette after cleaning
West lunette after cleaning
Tondo before restoration Restored tondo
Restored lunettes
Benson PhotographyAaslestaad
The Ballroom in 1915
Benson Photography
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