Celestial globe by Robert de Vaugondy after restoration

Restoration of a celestial globe by Robert de Vaugondy, Paris, c. 1750

The treatment included surface cleaning, structural reinforcement, reshaping the sphere and fully consolidating the horizon table.

Unfortunately, this magnificent celestial globe was badly damaged: it had numerous cracks, tears and stains, as well as an old, dusty varnish.

Celestial globe by Robert de Vaugondy before restoration

The owner chose a comprehensive restoration to ensure the globe’s long-term preservation while restoring its visual harmony.

Work began by cleaning the globe and removing the old varnish. This stage is often visually spectacular and gives a much clearer view of the condition of the paper beneath.

Cleaning the stand of a Vaugondy celestial globe

I removed the damaged gores and treated them separately, allowing me to clean them thoroughly and reinforce the internal structure.

The sphere was reshaped before the restored and resized gores were carefully returned to their original positions.

Finally, I applied a new conservation-grade varnish. To see a short video of the finished globe, click here:

Robert de Vaugondy celestial globe after restoration

Would you like me to restore your globe? Here is all the information you need.

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Restoration carried out according to professional conservation principles…

Contemporary conservation-restoration at L’Utile Zéphyr follows a strict code of ethics grounded in scientific research and respect for every layer of an object’s history. Before any treatment, the object is examined as a whole: its past, its damage, its alterations and the way it will be passed on to future generations. Every intervention must be reversible so that it can be removed, if necessary, without harming the original material. Chromatic retouching is therefore applied over a protective layer that creates a barrier between the original surface and the new paint, allowing later correction or removal. The conservation products used at L’Utile Zéphyr are neutral, stable over time and selected to avoid yellowing or cracking. Replacement materials may be made from scratch or sourced from authentic fragments or old objects that are beyond repair.