In the following photo, we see the Georgene Averill head as it arrived here in late 2002. The color and wax coating that simulate eyelids on the eyes are damaged, tongue painting is damaged, teeth are not installed, nor is the felt pad.

At this point, we have re-installed the teeth and touched up the damaged tongue. Eye damage was corrected by painting in the missing color with a conservation-grade acrylic medium and by dipping the damaged portions in molten wax to achieve a very thin coating. Note the tongue is mounted on a thin spring-steel strip, so that when it is secured above the nose it is able to move to some degree - thus the term 'wobbly'.

Further along, we have partially assembled the broken pieces using a high-grade acrylic adhesive, making it very much more convenient to install 'wobbly' tongue, eyes, cork stop (it was missing and we made it) that prevents the eyes from closing too far, and the felt pad that prevents eye weight from damaging the bisque in the neck area when the eyes move to their open position. Plaster mounts for the eyes are, fortunately, original.

With all internal parts now in place and functional, we finished bonding the back portion of the head in place and filled the small chips and missing areas.

Finally, the necessary airbrish and hand-brush work were completed, with results shown in our final photo.

In keeping with conservation ethics and standards of practice, all materials used to complete this project are 'reversible'. Should it ever become necessary, this head can be completely dismantled without inflicting further damage.

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