The reconstruction of the crimson velvet of the "Juvarrian" sofas of the Museo d’Arte Antica and Palazzo Madama in Turin
The project involved the analytical study, design, and subsequent faithful reconstruction of the historical velvet intended for the new upholstery of the eleven rare Baroque examples of the so-called "Juvarrian" sofas. This intervention was part of the extensive restoration and infrastructural renovation works carried out prior to the reopening of Palazzo Madama in Turin.
Project and Commission
The study and restoration of the upholstery textile materials and the sofa stuffing were arranged by the Torino Musei Foundation.
The scientific objective was highly ambitious: to strip the furnishings of the incongruous layers accumulated over the centuries in order to restore the artifacts to their original Baroque dignity.
Philological Research and Design Phase
The methodological core of the intervention lies in the complex design and preliminary analysis phase conducted within the laboratories of the Lisio Foundation, structured as a true archaeological investigation of the textile:
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The Study of the Fragments: Beneath subsequent linings and held in place by the original nails driven into the wood, tiny fragments of the original velvet were identified, the largest measuring just 4.5 x 1 cm.
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Decoding the Weave: Microscopic analysis of these remnants allowed the technical structure of the textile to be "read," revealing a taffetas derivé weave composed of three combined elements: a forest green ground warp, a bordeaux pile warp (in two shades), and a salmon pink weft.
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The Metric Exception: The design had to account for a unique technical peculiarity, namely a pile height significantly greater than that of any known solid-color historical velvet.
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The Study of the Stuffing: Philological analysis also extended to the internal structure of the seat, demonstrating that the original stuffing had been executed according to the 18th-century guidelines illustrated under the heading Tapissier in the Encyclopédie by Diderot and D'Alembert.
Production and the Lisio Manufacture
Moving from the theoretical project to production required a perfect synergy of technical and historical expertise within the manufacture:
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Loom Engineering: The specific setup of the manual shaft loom was engineered, and custom velvet "rods" were sourced and calibrated to ensure the exact pile height identified during the analysis phase.
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Colorimetry and Chemistry: To reproduce the characteristic original "pomegranate red" color, the Lisio Foundation coordinated the analytical study of the silk yarns (evaluating count and twist). It then oversaw the subsequent dyeing trials using modern reactive dyes, which guarantee maximum light fastness while maintaining the vibrant and shifting aesthetic appearance typical of the 18th century.
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Hand Weaving: The artisanal mastery of the Foundation enabled the production of the 60 meters of velvet required to complete the entire set of eleven sofas.
The final result is a texturally rich fabric, simultaneously bright and deep, capable of interacting perfectly with the lighting of the Baroque rooms and the richness of the gilded carving of the furniture.
