Cseri Miklós, Füzes Endre (szerk.): Ház és ember, A Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum évkönyve 16. (Szentendre, Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum, 2003)

SZENDRŐDINÉ GOMBÁS ÁGNES: Egy 19. századi debreceni típusú láda restaurálása

Ágnes, Szendródiné Gombás THE RESTORING OF A 'DEBRECEN TYPE' CHEST DATING FROM THE 19

th CENTURY The author has restored a bridal chest of the 19

th century called Debrecen type chest as a degree work for her restorer diploma at the University of Arts. When planning the work processes, she took into consideration that the object would be exhibited as part of an interior in a living room where the conditions are unfavourable for the exhibited objects. Before starting with the work, she collected all available data about the object and examined its condition thoroughly. She made UV-photos of the underlying coats of paint and the name of the first owner and the exact time of the production were established. Based on these information, she made some research in the family history and followed the history of the chest during the last 100 years. Checking culture historic facts, she gave an overview of the main characteristics of the furniture manufacturing centre of Debrecen. She compared the analogies necessary for the restoring work. Material studies revealed that the painting was applied on the wood directly. Scientific examination showed what type of paint and what type of binding material was used. Based on these results, she made a restoration plan with a few options, since unexpected modifications might be required in this profession. She started the work with binding the peeling paint. Surface pollution and later applied coats of painting had to be removed. The cleaning was difficult, since the condition of the original coating was not known. The cleaning of the leave-pattern was impossible because the pattern disappeared together with the brown coat of paint applied at a later time. Therefore, in order to keep the original pattern, it was left without cleaning. As a next step, the structural elements of the chest had to be fixed and missing pieces to be replaced. Since the chest should function as a piece of furnishing, a supporting strength was expected. The same kind of wood was used for replacing missing parts, as the original wood. The wood, weakened by insects was impregnated during several days to restore its original strength. The author cared for the appropriate aesthetic appearance too and used the required retouch, keeping the marks of wear, being a consequence of use. As final operation, she fumigated the chest with gas to provide him full protection against fungi and insects. During restoration she wanted to keep the reversibility, to safeguard the information found on the object and to make an exact documentation on every detail of the restoring work.