Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 17. (Budapest, 1998)

Andrea VÁRFALVI - Tamás Károly PELLER: The Restoration of a 17th Century' Hungarian Saddle

trailing stitches strengthened. (Replacement of the missing metal-thread embroidery' was necessary neither for aesthetic, nor for static reasons.) After the leather linings and borders had been steamed, they were treated with fatliquor and pressed dry.

17 The deformation and the crumples on the straps were not so very great; in their case the performance of fat-liquor cleaning and conservation without humidification was sufficient. The repair of the cracks and the sticking on of new pieces was in all cases performed using rice starch (111. 15). The smaller, wellpreserved lining leather did not need to be supplemented, since it did not fulfil a holding role and was not disturbing aesthetically, since it was under the seat and therefore not visible. Last of all, the restored materials of various kinds were put back together (111. 16). During the progress of the work, the restorators were obliged to make a number of decisions, the implementation of which involved departures from the techniques originally used. In these unavoidable cases the aim was - despite the large-scale damage suffered by the piece - the best state possible bearing in mind the saddle's original structure and appearance.