Treatment of The Chariot of Aurora panels from the ocean liner Normandie

In November 1998 the museum unveiled a striking Art Deco gilded lacquer relief, The Chariot of Aurora, from the famous ocean liner Normandie. A team of conservators worked to prepare the sculpture for display in an ambitious conservation treatment project that began in June 1997. In July 1998, the conservation project moved into the galleries, where the public was invited to watch. The demonstration included a small exhibition explaining the project, featuring a video produced by Jeff Helsel of CalUTV. Team members included:

Rhonda Wozniak
Matthew Fleischman
Patty West
Ellen Baxter
Stephanie Conforti
Lauren Kirkman
Rachel Wetzel
Nancy Bennington
James Squires
Yasuko Ogino
Hal Gill
Margo Rice
George Keadle
Maria Sullivan
Susan Pallant West
Lucy Stewart

Other museum staff involved in the conservation project:
Frank Pietruszinski
Ray Sokolowski
Jim Hawk
Jim Dugas
Ross Kronnenbitter
Don Brill
Dale Luce
Chris Rauhoff
Charlene Miller
Elissa Curcio