Prékopa Ágnes (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 31. (Budapest, 2017)

Veronika SZILÁGYI: Rebirth of the Gundel Centrepiece: Methodological Experiments in the Restoration of Enamelled Metalwork

this method cannot be applied in every type of enamelled component. (With the Gundel Centrepiece, it worked successfully on decorations suitable for having samples taken, which are generally small in size with a convex surface.) It is possible that further experiments will enable this method to be used on a broader range of types of object.

Besides the enamelled elements, it was also not a simple task to manufacture the other replacement parts. The majority of the filigree decorations had settings and stones, which precluded the use of casting. It would have been possible to make some of the replacement components using the

electrotyping method. In the absence of cyanide baths, which are suitable for silver electrotyping, present methods would only be suitable for producing parts out of copper. As the Gundel Centrepiece is made of silver, this method was not applied in this case in order to avoid the electrochemical corrosion that would arise when different metals come into contact with each other. There was therefore no choice but to use traditional metalworking methods, which are time-consuming and in some cases extremely difficult to execute, although they are far more appropriate where this particular piece of fine metalwork is concerned.

15. The fully restored Gundel Centrepiece. Photo by Gábor Nyíri

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