Chief Manuelito
County of McKinley, Gallup, NM
Chief Manuelito served as an important Navajo leader in the mid-nineteenth century against the encroachment of the U.S. government. Kit Carson’s scorched earth campaign left many native people starving though until they were forced to turn themselves in. Throughout this period, Manuelito led attacks and remained among the last to surrender. After enduring the Long Walk to the desolate Bosque Redondo reservation, Manuelito successfully petitioned for a restoration of their homelands (although only a small portion). He remained a popular leader, advocating for perseverance in the native culture and advancement through education. He is represented here by the artist Hermon Atkins MacNeil, who created several other notable sculptures of Native American subjects and themes.
The sculpture had been aggressively cleaned in the past, so that it displayed significant paint damage. Cracking in the gypsum and plaster layers beneath was associated with the movement of the wooden armature. There were also several areas of loss, as well as previous repairs.
Conservation Solutions, Inc. (CSI) was contracted to perform the conservation and restoration treatment of the sculpture. After assessment, paint samples were collected and investigated to develop the earliest colors and likely paint scheme and pattern of the blanket. Treatment of the sculpture itself was in three parts: structural stabilization and integration of new base and support components, consolidation and repair of deteriorated plaster, and overpaint removal along with repainting as needed. CSI also provided guidance for the display of the sculpture, and a maintenance plan for its continued preservation.