Rekonstruktion der Rekonstruktion?

Annäherung an eine Unbekannte: Die sogenannte Tunika Heinrichs II. aus dem Bamberger Domschatz

Abstract

Reconstruction of the reconstruction?
Approaching an unkown original: the so-called tunic of Henry II from the Bamberg Cathedral treasury
The so-called tunic of Henry II (king of Germany and Italy and Holy Roman Emperor from 1014 until his death in 1024) from the Bamberg Cathedral treasury (exhibited in the Bamberg Diocese Museum) with its trimmings in gold and pearl embroidery is one of the finest examples of Romanesque textile art. It is thought to be the vestment mentioned as an imperial tunic in 1127, which is associated with the founder of the bishopric canonised in 1200. Surviving invoices dating back to 1500 from the sexton’s office list numerous repairs made to the tunic. During the last intervention in the 1950s, the original tembroidered borders were removed from the late medieval fabric and attached to a custom manufactured vestment. This altered the arrangement of the border trimmings which had been fitted fairly randomly over the course of time. A recent technical examination of the tunic revealed that the reconstruction of the border trimmings contained obvious misinterpretations. Any further changes to the embroidered border would require prior consideration of the object’s biography and its conservation needs.