Kovács Petronella (szerk.): Isis - Erdélyi magyar restaurátor füzetek 6. (Székelyudvarhely, 2007)

Kiss Hédy: A Székely Nemzeti Múzeumban őrzött zászlók állapotfelmérése

so that the condensing vapour could not over-moisten the objects. The moistened skin was fit onto the cardboard model. The model, which was prepared from two parts (boot-last and leg) to a size slightly smaller than the boots, proved to be sufficiently pliable also because of the properties of the cardboard, which made it easier it place them into the boots without causing deformations. The model was isolated from the skin with a self-adhesive polyethylene foil. A polyethylene bag was placed inside, which, to evade overstressing, was gradually filled in with polystyrene balls. Bags filled in with salt were used where a greater pressure was necessary. At a few places the skin was rigider and thicker: here local moistening was used, then the given surface was pressed with the hand. This enabled us to stretch the skin in a controlled and finer manner.

After colour tests, the skin of a roe deer tanned with alum was chosen for the completion of the boots since this appeared to be the most fitting solution from an aesthetic aspect, especially regarding the grain. The new leather was coloured with metal complex leather dyestuff, then it was thinned to the thickness of the object with a skiving knife and a scalpel. After tests with adhesives, the 1:1 mixture of rice starch and Planatol of poli(vinyl-acetate) based watery dispersion adhesive was used on the completions. The patches were fit and glued to the leather from inside. During the complete process of the treatment, the boots were kept in the microclimate developed in the damp chamber without removing the packing used for the restoration of the shape. In result of the above-described interventions, the objects were brought into a stabile condition with respect to the theory of minimal interventions and, at the same time, an aesthetic shape could be reached, which matches the original materials and the age of the object.

A cardboard box lined with Japanese paper was prepared for the storage of the boots, one side of which was perforated to enable regular checking. Mechanical stress should be evaded at moving (hanging, folding, tying knots on the laces etc.). We suggest to exhibit the objects on a soft and chemically neutral surface and to keep the packing inside the boots to preserve the shape.

Andrea Bemáth Conservator Astra Museum Sibiu Romania

Hédy KISS

Assessment of the condition of the flags preserved in the Székely National Museum

The organic materials of flags are very sensitive to environmental changes, dust and other pollutants, and various biological pests also largely contribute to their deterioration. The storage and exhibition circumstances do not

agree with the regulations of the protection of art objects in many private and public collections. They are often treated according to practices borrowed from everyday customs. This approach has caused the perishing of many textile objects.

The Székely National Museum in Sepsiszentgyörgy (Sfintu Gheorghe) launched a program of the conservation of flags and other textile objects and the effectuation of storage conditions matching the European standards. No recapitulative study has so far been published on the flags of the museum, so in this paper we will also describe the objects and the characteristics of their technology beside the determination of their condition.

Revolutionary flag, inv. no.: 1887. A pure silk flag of a single face made of a single leaf composed of three, red, white and green parts pointed at the free edges. It probably belonged to the town council of Sepsiszentgyörgy (Sfintu Gheorghe) in 1848/49. In the central field, Hungary’s coatof-arms with the crown decorated with beads and sequins can be found composed of red, white and green pure silk and framed with a silvery ribbon. It is enclosed on the two sides by green-leaved olive branches held together at the stems with a red-white-green bow. On both sides of the ribbons, the year “18^18” is embroidered with cord twisted from gold threads. In the red stripe the inscription “S. SZ. GYÖRGY VÁROS” can be read made of the materials of the flag. The Sun and the Moon sewn on the flag and three stars embroidered with silver threads refer to the coat-of-arms of Háromszék. Fringes made of metal threads decorate the free edges of the flag. Only one of the three finial tassels have been preserved: it was made of red, white and green threads.

Sports banner, inv.no: 345/1948. The two-sided banner was made of two backed leaves of diagonal rib weaving. It was a challenge trophy won by the team of the Székely Mikó college in 1905. The edges are trimmed with red, white and green triangles. On the obverse, red and green gems with embroidered frames are arranged at regular intervals in the central field surrounded with ornamental tulip embroidery. The inscription embroidered on a claret velvet reads: “A MAGYAR TANULÓK/ORSZÁGOS TORNA VERSENYÉNEK/VÁNDORDÍJA/1901.” [Challenge trophy of the national gymnastics competition of Hungarian school-people/1901.] In the right comer Hungary’s embroidered red, white and green coat-of-arms with the crown decorated with chiselled gems and spangles. The shield is enclosed by an oil branch with leaves and berries on the right and an oak branch with leaves and acoms on the left. The colours of the embroidery threads are silver, gold, red, green and brown. On the reverse, the inscription „KÜZDJ ÉS BÍZVA BÍZZÁL!” is embroidered with gold thread. The tassel was made on a wooden base from two sorts of gold threads. The edges were stitched together with gold threads, while the fringes were made from yellow textile threads.

Sports banner, inv. no.: 345/1948. The two-sided banner was made of two machine rib weave leaves with white

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