Műtárgyvédelem, 2009 (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum)
T. Bruder Katalin: A tépei ezüsttál rekonstrukciója
Műtárgyvédelem 34 Reconstruction of the silver dish fromTépe Katalin T. Bruder The fragment of the Byzantine silver dish was found at Tépe in 1911 and it was deposited in the collection of the Hungarian National Museum. The dish was prepared from high quality silver with moulding and enchasing techniques. The fragment is about a quarter of the original dish and the central closing part of the shorter side is missing. Its measurements are the followings: 22.5 cm long and 11.8 cm wide. Smaller and larger dents can be found on the fragment, it got deformed and the material stretched along the cut-lines when it was cut into pieces. In result of being forced, the fragment got slightly “twisted” along the longitudinal axis. The fragment cannot properly express the beauty of the original object, so Dr Eva Garam archaeologist decided that it should be reconstructed. A classical reconstruction could not be made because of the above described condition: in this case the original object should have been treated with goldsmith’s methods, which would have been unethical. The only overall satisfying method of the reconstruction of the dish fragment from Tépe was preparing a reconstruction copy, a frequently applied method of conservation. With this method the original object remains intact, disregarding cleaning and conserving. The first step was to stop the deformations before preparing the copy. A two- sided plaster cradle was prepared from the original object for taking a silicon negative, from which a life-size copy was made from thermoplastic epoxy synthetic resin. The twisted surface was flattened on the heated copy and the stretched areas along the cut were readjusted or cut off where necessary. The dents were pushed back as far as it was possible. After cooling, the synthetic material hardened while it preserved the modifications, and thus we could take another negative from the restored fragment. Two plaster copies were made in this negative. The two fragments were fit together, and the completions were shaped and carved according to the patterns of the refitted fragments. Another two-sided silicon-plaster negative was taken of the plaster reconstruction. The copy was cast from bronze. After the final shaping and polishing of the surface, the entire dish was coated with electroplated silver. The plastic ornaments - ovolo motive along the rim, the dolphins and the two palmette motives - were also covered with galvanized local gilding. The original fragment is preserved in the original incomplete and deformed condition. It was not subjected to heat treatment or cold adjusting. It remained suitable for scientific material testing and metallographic analyses. The character and type of the superficial injuries can provide much information for researchers. A szerző cime/Author's address: T. Bruder Katalin Fém- és kerámia restaurátor művész / Metal and ceramic conservator MA e-mail: bruderkatalin@t-online.hu 208
