Kovács Petronella (szerk.): Isis - Erdélyi magyar restaurátor füzetek 7. (Székelyudvarhely, 2008)
Herceg Zsuzsanna: Új anyagok, új eljárások a szilikátalapú műtárgyak restaurálásában
enclosed in a circle in the central field. The dates “1857” and “ 1929” the year of the foundation of the craft-union and the consecration of the banner can be read in the circle. A royal crown is embroidered with golden yellow thread under the circle, while coloured flowering branches are under it. The ribbon is golden yellow satin, the bow is simple with an additional ribbon. There are four rows of flag studs on the pole. The first shield of every row is decorated with a crown. The name “Szarka István” is engraved on the first shield of the third row. The actual banner base is 165 cm x 130 cm large, but it must have been larger according to the rings on the pole. Condition-. The excellent condition suggests that it was renewed. 11. Banner of the butchers’ craft-union, inv. no: A/I/34. It is a single-leaf oblong-shaped banner made of silk damask of four-leaf clover pattern. Claret textile fringes can be seen on the arched closing of the free end, and the tassels on the free comers are made from golden threads. A brown silk shield can be seen in the central field trimmed with a yellow cord. The emblems of the butchers’ craft: a facing bull’s head, a knife and a whetstone are embroidered in a smaller while shield within the larger one. A multi-coloured flowery crown enclosed by a leafed branch from above can be seen on the top of the shield. An oak branch with oak-apples borders the small shield at the bottom and on the left and an olive branch with olives on the right. The embroidered inscriptions „ALAKULT/1809” [Founded/1809] and „A kézdivásárhelyi/MÉSZÁROS/IPARTÁRSULAT.” [Butchers’ craft-union of Kézdivásárhely] can be found under and above the medallion. Each a leaved and flowery branch was embroidered along the two longer sides of the banner. The ribbon is green satin silk, the bow is simple. The text „Molnár Józsiásné Sz.Gál Elvira 1894.” [Józsiásné Molnár b. Elvira Gál 1894] can be read on one end of the ribbon and „Az egyesülés erő a haladáshoz” [Union is power for advancement] was embroidered with silver and gold threads on the other end. Four stars and a flower can be seen on the additional ribbon. The fringe of the ribbons is made of gilded metal threads. Flag studs can be seen on the pine pole in three rows. An engraved inscription can be found on the first crowned shield of the first row: „Molnár Józsiásné/G.E./zászlóanya” [Józiásné Molnár/G. E./banner mother]. There are 13 nails with rings on the pole to hold the rod of the banner. The rod is made from brass. A butcher’s cleaver and a knife are depicted on the brass finial. Condition-. The banner seems to have had another side and perhaps a lining as well. At repairing, both layers were stitched to the dark red textile. The white silk of the medallion is frayed, the original colour of the trimmings can be seen under it. The ribbon is faded and stained. 12. Banner of the joiners’ craft-union, inv. no: A/I/35. The oblong-shoed double-leaf two-sided banner was made from red damask. Three edges are trimmed with a yellow ribbon and fringes of metal threads. Joiners’ tools can be seen in the medallion of side “A” surrounded by an oak branch with oak-apples. The inscriptions „KÉZDIVÁSÁRHELYI” [OF KÉZDIVÁSÁRHELY] and „ASZTALOS IPARTÁRSULAT” [JOINERS’ CRAFT-UNION] are embroidered with gilded metal threads under and above it. The numbers “19” on the left and “04” on the right mark the year of the consecration of the banner. Branches and flowers run in the comers on both sides. On side “B”, the Hungarian royal crown is represented between olive branches with olives with the contours prepared from gilded metal threads. The inscription „Összetartás, akarat” [Solidarity, will] can be found above it and the inscription „Sikert biztosat arat” [Success will certainly be achieved] can be read under it. The crown was an undesirable symbol during communism so a red cloth was stitched over it. The material and the embroidery threads of the covered area have preserved their original colours. The ribbon is red-and-green striped rep and it is lined under the inscription. The bow is simple. Embroidery with silver-coated metal threads can be read on the ribbon ends: „Nagy Ferencné/született/Csiszár Sára 1904.” [Ferencné Nagy/bom/Sára Csiszár 1904] and „Zászlóanya” [Banner mother]. Tendrils were sewn around the letters with silver threads. The fringes at the ends of the ribbons were made from gilded metal threads. The two parts of the pine pole are fixed together with a brass sleeve and a tusk. The crowned shield-shaped flag studs are arranged in five rows. The rod and the finial were made from brass. Condition'. The textile is faded, dusty and weakened, although it is relatively well preserved in the area of the crown. The fringes are fragmentary, the silver embroidery is oxidised. The embroidery threads loosened at a few places. The banner collection was assessed according to the aspects of conservation and preservation. It was also an excellent opportunity to estimate the suitability of the store-rooms and the exhibition area, and to call the attention of the staff to the condition of the banners. The expected result of the assessment will be, according to the conservation propositions, the conservation of the objects, the continuous measuring of the microclimatic factors, and, as far as it is possible, the introduction and maintenance of the most effective methods of preservation. Hédy M-Kiss Textile artist and conservator National textile conservation expert Muzeul Banatului RO 300561 Timişoara, Str. Ofcea nr. 5 Tel: 256-202-394 Zsuzsanna Herceg New materials and new methods in the restoration of silicate-based objects of art The author has successfully applied materials and methods different from the ones generally used in the restoration 148
