The renewed conservation treatment of a Republican silver treasure in order to recover the antique vessels’ shapes

Abstract

Before their acquisition in 1925, the appearance of some of the toilette and miniature vessels were drastically changed due to the combination of different fragments with the addition of modern elements. In a 1973 publication, the antique us of the combined elements was correctly identified, but the dismantling and new reconstruction was carried out only just recently. Due to careful observation of antique solder remains, a hitherto unknown handle construction could be identified and was reconstructed in acrylic glass. In comparison to silver vessels from burials in Ancona, wrongly combined foot and lid fragments could be reconstructed to their antique shapes. The dating to the 1st century BC was verified by the comparison of forms and decoration motives with those of dated glass and silver vessels.