Chinese Ivory Basket

This intricately-carved basket, which dates to the 19th century, is originally from Canton and is now part of an important English private collection. Over time, the ivory had yellowed significantly, and dirt had accumulated on the surface. The laser removed both the dirt and the discolouration, and the object was transformed. The detailed carvings are now legible and the imaginative scenes can be appreciated.

"Laser cleaning was extremely effective but one aspect exceeded expectations – the process revealed the soft sheen of the original finish, which would have been impossible to achieve by any mechanical process."