CONSERVA Beiträge zur Erhaltung von Kunst- und Kulturgut

Wieder in den Blick gerückt!

Knut Joachimsen — 2025-10-10

Back in the spotlight!
The Conservation project of a Roman Medusa Mosaic in focus of the public eye
In 1904, an almost completely preserved mosaic was discovered on the site of the former Roman camp Castra Bonnensia (Bonn). After its recovery and restoration, it became part of the permanent collection of the former Provincial Museum in Bonn. However, its destruction during the Second World War turned the once sensational find into a repository object that disappeared from public view. In 2013, an inventory brought the war-damaged mosaic back to light, and in 2021, with the help of regional cultural funding from the Rhineland Regional Council (LVR), a restoration project was launched with the aim of presenting the mosaic in the museum once again. A special feature and challenge is that the project will not only take place in the workshop area, but also in public within the permanent exhibition of the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn.

Objektives Transportmonitoring eines antiken Grabreliefs

Carolin Heinemann — 2025-10-10

Objective transport monitoring of an antique tomb relief
This article documents the transportation monitoring of an ancient funerary relief. The relief traveled from the Archaeological Collection of the University of Freiburg for the exhibition “Epidemics. Curse of the Past - Threat of the Future” to the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum in Hildesheim in 2022. As the relief is a fragile work, the condition before and after transportation was to be documented using 3D scanning in order to visualize any changes that may have occurred. In addition, several sensors on the base were used to measure the accelerations occurring during the transport journey and the corresponding time signals were analyzed.

Gemälde- und Textilrestaurierung Hand in Hand

Sandra Plötz — 2025-10-10

Painting and textile restoration hand in hand. The conservation of a canvas painting by inserting a large-scale dyed fabric inlay
A family portrait, likely originating from the former Rötha Castle, Saxony, and currently part of the local city and history museum (Stadt- und Heimatmuseum Rötha), was the subject of a diploma thesis at the Dresden University of Fine Arts in 2017/18. Since then, the heavily damaged canvas painting has been continuously worked on in the specialized class for art technology, conservation and restoration of paintings on mobile supports. Water damage resulted in severe loosening of the paint layers, numerous tears, deformations and a significant loss of the textile support characterized the appearance of this high-quality 19th-century painting. Following a thorough examination and extensive consolidation of the paint layers, the tears have been meticulously joined and closed with a fiber-binder mixture in recent years. Generous funding from the Marlis Kressner Foundation facilitated several academic semester break internships. An interesting solution was developed to address the loss in the support by using a colored canvas inlay, thereby completely avoiding restoration measures.

Rekonstruktionsversuch zur Herstellung von Häutchengoldfäden

Katrin Kania — 2025-10-10

Reconstruction experiment for the production of gilt membrane strips
A synergy of science and craftsmanship
For a longer period of time organical gold threads represented an alternative to metal threads made of solid gold and silver strips wound around a fibre core. In contrast to threads made from thin sheets of metal, the advantages of these gold filaments made from a special layer of gut and coated with a wafer-thin layer of metal leaf were their greater flexibility and much more cost-effective production. However, knowledge of the medieval manufacturing process for threads of this type has now been lost. The results of new material-analytical investigations on a corpus of Italian textiles from the 13th and 14th centuries with gilt membrane strip decoration by Cristina Scibè (University of Seville) and Caroline Solazzo (Smithsonian Institute Washington, D. C.) allow the development of new approaches to reconstruct the manufacturing process. In a series of experiments, methods for fixing the leaf metal to the prepared intestinal skin layer as well as cutting variants of the strips and methods for spinning the gold filaments were developed. Specific details observed during the production process can be used for comparisons with the originals in order to gain further insights into the historical production of chaff gold. By producing larger quantities of material, the technical feasibility of the proposed production process and spinning method has already been successfully tested, and the practical usability of the finished pieces has been proven.

Der Einsatz von Schlupfwespen zur Bekämpfung des Gemeinen Nagekäfers in Kirchen

Regina Bauer-Empl — 2025-10-10

The use of parasitic wasps to control the common furniture beetle in churches
A research project of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
Acute so-called woodworm infestation in churches can lead to damage to altars, sculptures, and wooden furnishings. This is usually caused by the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum). Since 2012, the parasitic wasp species Spathius exarator has been used in Germany as a natural enemy of the pest to combat it. A research project investigates the targeted use of parasitic wasps for pest control. Since 2021, this method has been practised in 15 selected, very different churches in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, accompanied by extensive monitoring and verifiably documented. The progress of the ichneumon wasp treatment shows a significant reduction in infestation with the larvae of the common rodent beetle in the reference areas observed. The large-scale project over several years allows a differentiated view of the anobia infestation and its control. However, before the considered and justified release of beneficial insects, each infestation situation must be precisely and expertly assessed and evaluated. In terms of a sustainable and environmentally friendly use of our resources, it was shown that the targeted use of parasitic wasps is an effective method of wood pest control and contributes to the preservation of the works of art in churches.

Das Dornröschen von Obercunnersdorf

Heike Pfund — 2025-10-10

The Sleeping Beauty of Obercunnersdorf.
Restoration of a half-timbered house. Work report from an ongoing project
Upper Lusatian Houses, referred to as „Umgebindehäuser” are mainly found in the border triangle of Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. For centuries, they were the region's defining building style. The houses combine construction methods that otherwise occur separately: Solid construction, half-timbered construction and log construction. Some were farmhouses with a solid stable section on the ground floor and a living room made of logs. Others were built for weavers and often had a second log room instead of the stable section. These houses and thus the building style seem to be dying out. Only around 6000 houses are still standing. The house presented here is located in Obercunnersdorf and has been undergoing restoration since 2022. After being vacant for over 20 years, the house was in poor condition and first had to be made stable with the help of an experienced carpentry firm. The aim was to preserve the house as authentically as possible, but still equip it with modern comforts such as central heating, bathrooms and kitchens. Once the project is complete, there will be two new apartments with low ceilings and old windows for people who appreciate the charm of old houses and want to live like this.

Film Preservation im globalen Kontext

Manuel Götz — 2025-10-10

Film Preservation in a global context
Technology, Economy and Education
The article explores global film preservation and the long-term safeguarding of analog films as cultural heritage. Preserving films comes with challenges in material stability, accessibility and technological obsolescence. Nitrate and acetate films degrade chemically which makes preventive storage and restoration necessary. Digitization today often serves both archival and accessibility purposes but carries risks due to technological dependencies. Public awareness and political support for film preservation are often insufficient. Initiatives like the Film Heritage Foundation in India show that knowledge transfer, international collaboration and advocacy are crucial. With climate change threats archives must become more resilient. The article calls for open education programs and stronger networking to ensure the long-term survival of film heritage.

Editorial

Hans Michaelsen — 2025-10-10

Inhalt

Die Redaktion — 2025-10-10

Förderung des interdisziplinären Austauschs konservierungs- und restaurierungsbezogener Daten in der digitalen Welt

Kristina Fischer — 2025-10-10

Datenbank Farbmusterbücher der TU Dresden

Regina Klee — 2025-10-10

Neuedition, Übersetzung und Kommentar von Paola Travaglio und Thomas Reiser

Doris Oltrogge — 2025-10-10

Titelei

Die Redaktion — 2025-10-10