Medieval Reliquary Shrines and Precious Metalwork / Châsses-reliquaires et Orfèvrerie Médiévales

This trilingual volume presents the proceedings of a 2001 conference held alongside the conservation of two 11th- and 12th-century reliquary shrines at the Musee d’art et d’histoire, Geneva. It offers a comprehensive overview of current approaches to the conservation and technological study of medieval European precious metalwork. With contributions in English, French, and German, the book reflects international expertise and collaboration in the preservation of medieval goldsmithing and ecclesiastical treasures.

This volume presents the proceedings of a conference held in September 2001 in conjunction with the conservation of two reliquary shrines of the 11th and 12th century at the Musee d’art et e’histoire in Geneva. The papers present an overview of the state-of-the-art of conservation and technological studies of medieval precious metalwork in Europe. This volume contains papers written in either English, French or German. It is published jointly by Archetype Publications and the Fondation pour la restauration de deux chefs-d’oeuvre d’orfevrerie du Haut Moyen Age a Sion et Saint-Maurice.

PrefaceIntroductionAcknowledgementsMaterialsFib res in general (polymers)ClassificationThe chemistry and physics of polymersCelluloseProteinsVegetable fibresFlax/linenCottonAnimal fibresWool/hairSilkMan-made fibresSemi-synthetic fibresSynthetic fibresMorphologyOther synthetic fibres made from inorganic materialTextile techniquesSpinningWeavingBinding systemsTapestriesOther techniquesDecorative techniquesDyeing and printing textilesNatural dyesSynthetic dyesTextile finishes/after treatmentsDegradation of textilesNatural decay of celluloseOxidationHydrolysisCross-linkingInfluence of environmental circumstancesNatural decay of proteinsPhotodegradationHydrolysisInfluence of environmental circumstancesNatural decay of other fibre materialPhysical-mechanical processesResponse to moistureResponse to mechanical forcesResponse to tensionIntrinsic decayOther factorsIdentifying degradationThe museum environmentThe properties of the environmentTemperatureRelative humidityAir pollutionMeasuring and recording the museum environmentThe control of environmental conditionsDivision into zonesConditioning of the environmentSummaryAppendixPsychrometric chartMaterials and their equilibrium moisture content (EMC)The effect of organic materials on the changes in the indoor climateLightIntroductionElectromagnetic spectrum
wavelengthLight intensity, luminance and reflectionDamageMeasuring devicesLux meterUV meterBlue wool standardLightCheck stripsVisible lightDamage to materialsLight sourcesMeasures to reduce light levelsUV radiationDamage to materialsLight sourcesMeasures to filter out UV radiationInfrared radiationDamage to materialsLight sourcesMeasures to eliminate IR radiationLight sourcesFibre opticsEnergy efficiencyPresenting a textile collectionLighting designRecent developmentsInsects and fungi in textile collectionsInsectsCharacteristicsDevelopmentRequir ementsInsects in textile collectionsFungiFungi in textile collectionsCharacteristics and developmentRequirementsDamage caused by fungiActive or not?Integrated pest managementThe five steps of IPMDetectionDisinfestation and disinfection methodsInsectsFungiOther methodsChoosing the most appropriate disinfestation methodStorageStorage facilitiesGeneral guidelinesPreventive measuresQuarantineStorage systems and materialsSuitable systemsSuitable materialsAccess to and use of storage facilitiesObjects in storageLocation of collection(s) in museum buildingsStorage of textilesLarge and/or long two-dimensional textilesSmall two-dimensional textilesFlat textiles with pileFlat, composite objectsThree-dimensional textilesThree-dimensional objectsTransportationDetermining the object's fragilityRisk analysis of the transportation routeMeans of external transportationOptimising the object and/or routeDetermining the necessary protection and designing the packagingPacking the objectTransporting/courieringUnpacking and checking the objectEvaluate and improve approachTextiles on displayTemporary exhibitionsTextiles as part of a (semi-)permanent exhibitionTextiles in interiorsLightEnvironmentAbrasionReplicasSeaso nal closureShowcases or open display?Climatic conditions and showcasesLight and showcasesExhibiting textilesLarge and/or long two-dimensional textilesSmall two-dimensional textilesFlat textiles with pileFlat, composite objectsThree-dimensional textilesThree-dimensional objectsAppendixMaterials for making a padded, fabric-covered boardInstructions for making a padded, fabric-covered boardMaterials for conservationResearchProductsSheet materials for making supportsMaterials used in making supportsAdhesives and tapesBarrier foilsPackaging materialPersonal safetyFabrics, non-wovens and fabric tapesOther materialsConservation and restorationThe history of conservationTerminologyThe textile conservatorEthical codeContracting out conservation workDefining tasksMechanical cleaning of textilesThe removal of dustDocumentationThe documentary task: registration and documentation of a museum collectionComputerisationObjects entering the collectionRegistration of objects entering a collectionThe sending out of objectsThe acquisition of objectsDescribing the objectLocation control and the moving of objectsNumbering of textile objectsCondition reportsPhotographyAppendixForm of entryForm of returnCollection managementCollection planMaintenance planThe condition reportDisaster planTextile calamities and first aidWater damageGlossaryBibliographyIndex,

Preface

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Materials

Fibres in general (polymers)

Classification

The chemistry and physics of polymers

Cellulose

Proteins

Vegetable fibres

Flax/linen

Cotton

Animal fibres

Wool/hair

Silk

Man-made fibres

Semi-synthetic fibres

Synthetic fibres

Morphology

Other synthetic fibres made from inorganic material

Textile techniques

Spinning

Weaving

Binding systems

Tapestries

Other techniques

Decorative techniques

Dyeing and printing textiles

Natural dyes

Synthetic dyes

Textile finishes/after treatments

Degradation of textiles

Natural decay of cellulose

Oxidation

Hydrolysis

Cross-linking

Influence of environmental circumstances

Natural decay of proteins

Photodegradation

Hydrolysis

Influence of environmental circumstances

Natural decay of other fibre material

Physical-mechanical processes

Response to moisture

Response to mechanical forces

Response to tension

Intrinsic decay

Other factors

Identifying degradation

The museum environment

The properties of the environment

Temperature

Relative humidity

Air pollution

Measuring and recording the museum environment

The control of environmental conditions

Division into zones

Conditioning of the environment

Summary

Appendix

Psychrometric chart

Materials and their equilibrium moisture content (EMC)

The effect of organic materials on the changes in the indoor climate

Light

Introduction

Electromagnetic spectrum; wavelength

Light intensity, luminance and reflection

Damage

Measuring devices

Lux meter

UV meter

Blue wool standard

LightCheck strips

Visible light

Damage to materials

Light sources

Measures to reduce light levels

UV radiation

Damage to materials

Light sources

Measures to filter out UV radiation

Infrared radiation

Damage to materials

Light sources

Measures to eliminate IR radiation

Light sources

Fibre optics

Energy efficiency

Presenting a textile collection

Lighting design

Recent developments

Insects and fungi in textile collections

Insects

Characteristics

Development

Requirements

Insects in textile collections

Fungi

Fungi in textile collections

Characteristics and development

Requirements

Damage caused by fungi

Active or not?

Integrated pest management

The five steps of IPM

Detection

Disinfestation and disinfection methods

Insects

Fungi

Other methods

Choosing the most appropriate disinfestation method

Storage

Storage facilities

General guidelines

Preventive measures

Quarantine

Storage systems and materials

Suitable systems

Suitable materials

Access to and use of storage facilities

Objects in storage

Location of collection(s) in museum buildings

Storage of textiles

Large and/or long two-dimensional textiles

Small two-dimensional textiles

Flat textiles with pile

Flat, composite objects

Three-dimensional textiles

Three-dimensional objects

Transportation

Determining the object's fragility

Risk analysis of the transportation route

Means of external transportation

Optimising the object and/or route

Determining the necessary protection and designing the packaging

Packing the object

Transporting/couriering

Unpacking and checking the object

Evaluate and improve approach

Textiles on display

Temporary exhibitions

Textiles as part of a (semi-)permanent exhibition

Textiles in interiors

Light

Environment

Abrasion

Replicas

Seasonal closure

Showcases or open display?

Climatic conditions and showcases

Light and showcases

Exhibiting textiles

Large and/or long two-dimensional textiles

Small two-dimensional textiles

Flat textiles with pile

Flat, composite objects

Three-dimensional textiles

Three-dimensional objects

Appendix

Materials for making a padded, fabric-covered board

Instructions for making a padded, fabric-covered board

Materials for conservation

Research

Products

Sheet materials for making supports

Materials used in making supports

Adhesives and tapes

Barrier foils

Packaging material

Personal safety

Fabrics, non-wovens and fabric tapes

Other materials

Conservation and restoration

The history of conservation

Terminology

The textile conservator

Ethical code

Contracting out conservation work

Defining tasks

Mechanical cleaning of textiles

The removal of dust

Documentation

The documentary task: registration and documentation of a museum collection

Computerisation

Objects entering the collection

Registration of objects entering a collection

The sending out of objects

The acquisition of objects

Describing the object

Location control and the moving of objects

Numbering of textile objects

Condition reports

Photography

Appendix

Form of entry

Form of return

Collection management

Collection plan

Maintenance plan

The condition report

Disaster plan

Textile calamities and first aid

Water damage

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

• Edited by Kilian Anheuser
• Edited by Christine Werner