Put a Lid on It!

This wooden lid dates to the late 13th century. It was found in a domestic structure excavated on Perth High Street in the 1970s. The circular ridge on the base would have fitted neatly inside the neck of vessel it closed. The lid was made on a lathe, a machine that spins the wood while the woodworker holds tools against it to shave away excess wood and produce the desired shape. 

The lid was in a stable condition when it came to AOC, but old adhesive from a previous repair had begun to age, turning yellow and affecting the appearance of the object. Our conservators gently removed excess adhesive, and then carefully hand-painted the adhesive to match the colour of the object, retaining the lid’s stability while improving its appearance.