Hi folks. As many of you know, I'm a user of and believer in Renaissance Wax. In trying to make sure that I do not misinform people about finishes used in my pen making, I contacted The British Museum and asked for their comments. Here is the response I received today.
quoteear Mr Metcalf,
My apologies for taking some time to reply to your enquiry regarding Picreator Enterprises' 'Renaissance Wax', I have been making some enquiries amongst my colleagues in Conservation here at the Museum. This product is indeed used in the Department on certain materials and types of object. It is not employed very frequently</u> and is used very sparingly, but it has some applications under certain circumstances</u> and has been applied to various types of historical metalwork (such as arms and armour), some types of wood and leather and some types of stone.
The product's connection with the British Museum seems to originate in the early seventies. It is mentioned as a footnote</u> to an appendix describing recipes for microcrystalline polishing waxes in 'The Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art' (2nd ed.), by Plenderleith and Werner (former Keepers of the British Museum Research Laboratory), Oxford University Press, London, 1971.
Yours sincerely,
Marilyn Hockey
Head of Ceramics, Glass and Metals Section (temp.)
Dept. of Conservation, Documentation and Science
The British Museum
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3DG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7323 8344
Fax: +44 (0)20 7323 8636