First photos show the condition of the surface before the restoration has begun. In order to understand the materials those were involved originally, the microscopic examination has taken place. After that the recipes were created for gesso and a bole. The paint under the matt water gilding has been used as the most suitable and close substitute for the original paint.
Next photos show the final result after the surface has been cleaned from the damaged gesso and sized. Then the new gesso has been applied, sanded and polished. Then the bole (in this case black as the original) has been applied, sanded and polished. After all the gold leaf has been placed, burnished (polished) and lacquered.
The whole process is rather time consuming. It took Yuri 250 hours to complete the restoration on this element.