Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 27. (Budapest, 2009)
Emese PÁSZTOR - Márta TÓTH - Anikó PATAKI - Andrea VÁRFALVI: Turkish Cases from the Esterházy Treasury
However, it was not possible to achieve the expected change in their sizes by stretching them. Leaving aside the differences in shape, we found that with this treatment it was not possible to restore completely the full flexibility of the lower area strongly permeated with corrosion and, because of this, transformed structurally. One of the linings became unsuitable for supplementation and sticking. Because of this, we decided to use new lining cut from goatskin: the conserved original leather lining could be exhibited separately. Nor were we able to stretch the back, and originally thicker, II/ 10. The case afier restoration panel to its original size. Nevertheless, we decided on the putting back of this part. Supplementation, reinforcement For the supplementing of the back panel, we selected cow leather of equivalent thickness. This I dyed brown. After thinning, the edges of the leather, which was cut out on the basis of a template of the part made when the artefact was disassembled, were stuck to the artefact using rice paper, along with the original edging. To avoid tearing, I reinforced the back of the panel (i.e. its wrong side) using Japan paper dyed brown, sticking it on with animal glue. Placing the panel between sheets of blotting paper and putting a heavy weight on top, I then left it to dry slowly over a number of days. The goatskin lining, the upper dimensions of which largely corresponded with the original ones, I reinforced with Japan paper dyed brown. Reassembly For the reassembly of the case, support was given by the needle-holes preserved in the layers of leather. First of all, I sewed the embroidered front panel to the new goatskin lining. Similarly, I tacked the conserved back panel to the lining reinforced with japan paper, and then sewed the four layers together again. I fitted together the pieces without altering their sizes, and did not employ padding to create distance between the layers. For the edge of the case, I cut a strip of red-dyed goatskin that had been made thin. Having made this moderately moist, I placed it on the edges, sticking it with rice starch to prevent it from moving. As the final step, I made the decorative sewing of the border, paying attention to the original stitching technique. 98
