A Peek Inside A Conservator's Lab

Attic horse pyxiz getting restored in the lab.

Last weekend, Dr. Renee Stein, conservator at the Carlos Museum gave a talk on the process of conserving and restoring ancient artifacts. The objective of the work, she pointed out, is to suggest the way a piece looked and was used thousands of years ago, without overwhelming it with modern overlays or "fixes."

The talk was for a program sponsored by the Georgia Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE). It was fascinating to hear about the incredible attention to detail that is required to match paint colors, surfaces, linen and even glues as repairs are made. 

Vaccum tubes for removing dust and decay...

The best part of the event was a tour of the museum's lab. Several artifacts in the process of being repaired, restored or conserved where laid out on tables. I can't wait until these pieces are displayed in the galleries so I can have a before and after look.

The next ARCE event takes place on February 11, 7:30 pm, at Emory. Dr. Lawrence Berman, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, will give a lecture on A Complete Cosmos: The Tomb of an Egyptian Governor and Its Secrets.  Sounds like another great program!