Műtárgyvédelem, 2009 (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum)
Nagy Melinda: Egy 17–18. századi díszöv restaurálása
Műtárgyvédelem 34 square-shaped onlay and originally both buckles were covered with filigreed metal plates, and the semi-cylindrical elements were completely enamelled. The belt had already been repaired before it arrived to the workshop, it was dirty and dusty. From the metal components, the semi-cylindrical elements were deformed and most of the enamel had peeled off. The metal plate was completely missing from one of the buckle terminals and half of it was missing from the other one. The fibrous materials were very dirty and incomplete (insect deterioration). It turned out after the visual examination of the object that the materials to be used and the conservation method depended on the extent of the disassembling of the belt. The materials that composed the object were determined by analytical methods. The result of the analysis of the samples taken from the metal components of the belt corroborated the supposition that they were made from silver and certain elements from fire-gilded silver. As the object was not completely disassembled, the organic materials of the support and the inorganic materials of the metal components had to be treated together. As the biological deterioration extended on the interior of the belt as well, the object had to be disinfected, which was done in the Museum of Applied Arts. The cleaning of the belt led to a spectacular result: it regained its vivid colours. To protect the silver elements, the conservation (with 5% solution of poly(vinyl-acetate)) had to be performed right after the cleaning. The silk fabric demanded the closest attention during the cleaning of the fibrous materials because of the inscription. After cleaning, the deformed areas were restored. It could only pardy be done without the dismantling of the elements. Next came the completions and the preparation of the reconstruction. The missing metal components were replaced from silver, the enamel completions were prepared from materials chosen during the tests, while the gems were made from coloured synthetic resin. The silver completions were fixed with UHU hart glue. The silver reconstructions of the buckle ornaments were assembled with soldering, and they were attached to the body of the buckle with a silver wire. The conservation of the fibrous materials was started with the separation of the silk fabric and the underlying lining. After the completion of bleeding tests, the wet cleaning of the inscribed fabric and the lining was carried out with the same non-ionic detergent (Genapol UD 030). Then they were pinned and dried, which was followed by conserving stitching on the inscribed silk cloth and the scrolled metal thread fabrics. Finally, the belt was reassembled. In result the stability of the object was restored and an aesthetically more enjoyable condition was reached. Owing to the fact that the object was not disassembled, the original production technological features could be preserved together with the information it carries. A szerző címe /Author’s address: Nagy Melinda Fém-ötvös restaurátor művész / Metal and goldsmith conservator MA Tel:+36/20-9520-653 e-mail: nagymelinda08@gmail.com 202
