Conservation around the Millennium (Hungarian National Museum, 2001)

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4-5. Surfaces with crumbling grains

The analytical results and the preliminary test cleanings suggested the use of packing with ammonium-carbonate agent after the removal of the gypsum layer. Treatment for 12 hours and the following rinsing with water resulted a satisfactory clean surface. Since deep cleaning would have caused heavy damages at the chain silicate inclusions, some of the dirt had to be left in these places. A copy was made of the cleaned statue to replace the original in the open air. The original statue was thinly coated with bee swax wax to temper the effects caused by the changes of the atmospheric humidity, and it was placed within the walls of the museum.

Authors’s addresses:

László Kriston physicist National Institute for Criminology H-1022 Budapest, Maros u. 6/a István Bodor stone sculptor restorer H-1194 Budapest, Pozsony u. 97.

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