Lecture Series
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020
The title of the talk : Colours of nature on textile
Speaker : Morwena Stephens (ACR, Textiles & Ethnographic Artefacts) Conservator, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, UK)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 28th July at 16.00 IST via Zoom. The speaker discusses improving the collection care and conservation of flags and banners across Devon and Cornwall through two interrelated projects. The first project, ‘Flying the Flag’ identified the current conditions of collections and their requirements for collection care improvements, as well as individual condition assessments of key objects through local ‘surgeries’ followed up by collections care training and on-site support to help make improvements. The second project ‘Raising the Standard’ involved the conservation and research of individual flags and banners for interpretation and display.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Weaving India
Speaker : Bessie Cecil (Textile researcher, conservator, artist, designer)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 24th July at 17.00 IST via Zoom. In the early 20th century, a commencement was made in the Museum Report of the Textile Department of the Bradford Technical College with a section on the “Standardising of Trade Terms — Yarn, Weaves and Fabrics” that are the widely referred terms in use today, which focuses on western world weave practices on automated looms. Despite the fact that India holds varied varieties woven on Handloom, there are no standardised terms in practise! This presentation is a research journey of understanding the varied handwoven traditions and their weaves.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Conservation of a treasure in stone
Speaker : Nic Boyes (Stone Conservator, UK)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 22nd July at 17.00 IST via Zoom. Rosslyn Chapel is a sandstone built ecclesiastical building founded in 1446AD located in Scotland in the north of The United Kingdom of Great Britain. The building was conceived by Sir William Sinclair as a very ambitious endeavour. The building is highly decorated with elaborate carved stone decoration inside and out. Being a charisma driven project, the construction work ceased in 1484AD when Sir William Sinclair died. The result is an unfinished, highly decorated masonry structure, described as a ’Treasure in Stone’, that has been the subject of painting, poetry and pilgrimage throughout its history. Therefore, we are able to record the changing condition of the building over time, chart the remedial works undertaken in response and measure the long-term efficacy of those remedial works. A project of conservation treatments was undertaken over a four your programme from 2009 which gave us an opportunity to apply museum type conservation treatments to identified items of stone defect, damage and decay which will be shared and discussed.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Conservation of the Lusthaus-Ruins in Stuttgart, Germany
Speaker : Albert Kiefel (Conservator, AeDis AG (Ebersbach, Germany)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 17th July at 16.00 IST via Zoom. The Lusthaus in Stuttgart, formerly known for its splendour and size was built in the 1580s as a banquet hall for aristocratic feasts. In the 18th century, it was remodelled as opera house and by the mid of the 19th century to a theatre. In 1902 the building burned down, displaying a former porch within the ruins. The Lusthaus was not reconstructed, instead a new house was built. However, the ruins of the porch, that had become very popular, were rebuilt in a nearby park. The goal for a conservation was to take down the added supports and to preserve the stone material using Ethyl silica acid and silica sol based systems. This talk will highlight the restoration and conservation of the heavily damaged Lusthaus ruins.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Colours of nature on textile
Speaker : Bessie Cecil (Textile researcher, conservator, artist, designer)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 15th July at 16.00 IST via Zoom. India’s natural dye tradition has spanned several thousand years. India’s dye masters had perfected the art of using colourfast dyes in a palette of rainbow colours by the use of mordants, substances to fix dyes onto cloth, a tradition that had been passed on from generation to generation in India but with no written records. India indeed clothed most of the known world in brilliant hues of colours taken from nature.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : A diagnostic approach to the bio-deterioration study: Case studies on stone monuments
Speaker : Annalaura Casanova (Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 13th July at 16.00 IST via Zoom. Many microorganisms are capable of inducing biodeterioration process on the stone monument or art object. The different shapes of biodeterioration are linked mainly to the type of substrate, the environmental conditions and past treatments. Often these processes are mixed up with mechanical and chemical processes, bringing about an unsuitable approach and to incorrect conservation action. For example, many stone monuments are affected by endolithic microorganism colonization without leaving any traces of their presence on the surface (case study: stone bio-pitting in the Mediterranean area). Moreover, it is hard to establish if a microorganism (e.g. lichen, cyanobacteria and algae) plays a rule in the deterioration or protection of monuments (case study: Cappadocian monuments and Angkor temples (Cambodia)). Finally, the case study in Cambodia on the Neang Khmau temple shows that a correct diagnostic strategy is mandatory for the right conservation of the cultural heritage.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Biology and Cultural heritage: an introduction of positive and negative aspects
Speaker : Flavia Bartoli (Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 10th July at 16.00 IST via Zoom. The cultural heritage, whether of organic or inorganic material, is subject to alteration and deterioration over time, linked to physical, chemical or biological processes. The colonization and development of biological communities (biodeteriogens organisms) can cause aesthetical, physical or chemical damages. It is one of the most important problems of conservation of all organic artwork but also of all external monuments (Biodeterioration). At the same time, however, the presence of some organisms can be favourable for the conservation of our artworks. The formation of patinas can protect them from alteration due to the chemical-physical encodings of the environment (Bioprotection). Finally, with the latest research, it has been discovered that the eco-physiological characteristics of some organisms can be exploited for direct conservation interventions (Bioremediation). Therefore, identifying the organisms present and knowing their ecological and physiological needs, allows a correct diagnostic approach as well as an innovative and more lasting approach to conservative and restoration intervention.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Conservation of statues of Mont’ePrama
Speaker : Prof. Roberto Nardi (CCA, Centro di Conservazione Archeologica Roma)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 8th July at 16.00 IST via Zoom. In the 1970s, 5178 stone fragments dating from the eleventh to eighth centuries BC, representing archers, boxers, warriors and nuraghe models, were excavated by the Archaeological Superintendence of Cagliari (Sardinia) from the funerary and sacred area of Monte Prama, near Cabras, Oristano. The statues are known today as the Giants of Monte Prama, due to their impressive dimensions, more than two meters in height. In 2007 the CCA, designed and implemented a conservation project to put the statues on display at the Museums of Cagliari and Cabras. The Mont’e Prama Conservation project was a multidisciplinary effort aiming to bring together conservation, museology, public engagement, community involvement and communication on a regional, national and international level.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Who is responsible for the damages to cultural heritage.
Speaker : Gaël de Guichen (Advisor to the Director General of ICCROM Rome)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 6th July at 16.00 IST via Zoom. Since 1977, ICCROM proposes a way to classified the various types of aggressors of tangible heritage regrouping them 5 groups in Natural factors (fast and slow effects), Human factors (fast and slow effects) and professionals. With experience this traditional classification will be discussed and illustrated.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Conservation of cast and wrought iron: Surface Preparation and Painting.
Speaker : Mr. Geoffrey Wallis (Consultant, Historic England and the National Trust, UK)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 3rd July at 16.00 IST via Zoom The process of rusting is discussed. Iron naturally corrodes outdoors so must be protected, but how do we know which paint to use and how to clean the surface? The different categories of environment and the specifications of paint available to give a coating of predicted life-span are explained. The different surface-preparation techniques, types of paint, and methods of applying paint to ferrous surfaces are also discussed
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Conservation of cast and wrought iron: Repairs
Speaker : INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivereon 1st July at 16.00 IST via Zoom In this lecture, the ethics governing the conservation of ironwork are outlined along with tips on surveying structures. The hot and cold repair processes are illustrated with case studies.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020
The title of the talk : Conservation of cast and wrought iron: Material and deterioration
Speaker : Mr. Geoffrey Wallis (Consultant, Historic England and the National Trust, UK)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered on 29th June at 16.00 IST via Zoom. Iron is the fourth most abundant element on earth and historically the most common metal in construction. Focusing on cast and wrought iron, in this first lecture the speaker illustrates how these traditional metals were smelted and shaped for practical use by the founder and blacksmith. Referring to their properties, some of the many interesting and diverse uses iron, both in Great Britain and other countries are highlighted.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Scientific analyses for the characterization of historic mortars and of stucco works
Speaker : Marta Caroselli (Researcher in conservation science SUPSI-IMC)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered by the speaker from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (SUPSI), Switzerland via Zoom on 17 June 2020 (16.00 IST).After a brief introduction to the raw materials used in our context (northern Italy, southern Switzerland) and production technologies, the main scientific investigation techniques used for the study of mortars will be illustrated. We will see how to characterize a composite material such as historic mortars and how each methodology (chemical, mineralogical, petrographic or physical) is not sufficient individually to determine a comprehensive characterization. During the lecture some examples of research in the field of mortars and stucco decorations and the results obtained will be presented.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Gino Severini’s first murals in Switzerland: a multi-technique analytical study of the artist’s materials
Speaker : Patrizia Moretti (Researcher in conservation science SUPSI-IMC)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered by the speaker from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (SUPSI), Switzerland via Zoom on 16 June 2020 (16.00 IST). The vast modern decoration in the Church of Saint Nicolas de Myre at Semsales (1924-1926) represents the first murals experience in Switzerland of the renowned Italian artist Gino Severini. The paint materials used by Severini in this church have been characterized by a multi-technique analytical approach including both non-invasive and invasive methods. The findings, correlated to historical and archival research, and visual examination by conservators, provided significant insights into the artist’s materials and techniques. This case study offers a valuable example of multidisciplinary process applied to the knowledge of an artwork.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : BEFORE, DURING and AFTER: scientific investigations for the conservation of wall paintings
Speaker : Prof. Francesca Piqué (Professor in conservation science SUPSI-IMC)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered by the speaker from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (SUPSI), Switzerland via Zoom on 10 June 2020 (16.00 IST). In a world characterized by technological innovations, it is very important to clarify how technology can and should be used to support a methodological process for conservation of cultural heritage. The lecture illustrates the role of scientific support throughout the entire conservation process: from the understanding and the characterization of the materials present, to diagnostic study of the deterioration causes and mechanism, to developing treatment and monitoring over time the interventions and the condition of the heritage.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Education and research in conservation-restoration.
Speaker : Prof. Giacinta Jean (Head of conservation-restoration study program SUPSI)
INTACH Conservation Institute Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’ was delivered by the speaker from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (SUPSI), Switzerland via Zoom on 8 June 2020 (16.00 IST. The lecture will give an overview of the education system in conservation-restoration in Switzerland, based on theoretical lessons and practical activities and will give information about research projects conducted by the Institute of Materials and Construction (IMC) of SUPSI such as XX century architecture, stucco decoration, dating and mortar technology, plaster’s models. The video also includes Question & Answer session with the speaker.
ICI Lecture Series ‘Conservation Insights 2020’
The title of the talk : Copper materials: From ancient civilization to COVID times
Speaker : Prof. Arunachalam Ramanan (FRSC), Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
The story of copper and its alloys is virtually a chronicle of human endeavour since the Stone Age. The copper materials have contributed to every civilization, from the ancient to modern day cultures so much so that one of the major “ages” or stages of human history is named after a copper alloy, Bronze Age. Prior to 19th century, copper was used mainly for its mechanical properties, whereas since then its function expanded owing to its exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity. In the twenty first century, however, the antimicrobial properties of copper materials, though recognized in ancient civilization has resumed its importance. In this talk, the speaker will highlight with selected examples how copper materials have evolved over centuries and their significance in art and culture, particularly from ancient times to COVID times.
