Research Vincent Cattersel

Abstract

This project will study and preserve a 17th-century Antwerp cabinet decorated with the rare early European lacquer technique known as 'lak scagliola'. The primary aim is to acquire and place this cabinet in its art-historical and art-technical context, and assess and document its current condition. Based on the findings from the former, a treatment proposal will be developed and subsequently, the conservation and restoration treatment is executed. The stages according to chronological order are: (1) A material and technical analysis of the cabinet's structure, veneering and inlays, lak scagliola surfaces, metal fittings and lock, and the varnish layer; (2) the assessment and documentation of its present state of preservation; (3) the design of a reversible, well-reasoned treatment strategy addressing surface cleaning, stabilisation of loose or the consolidation of structurally weakened elements, and the reintegration of lacunae. (4) Finally, after consultation and approval of the object's stakeholders, the conservation/restoration treatment will be executed in line with the MOU guidelines and international ethical and professional standards.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cattersel Vincent

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The collection of the KMKG-MRAH holds a vast number of objects from across the globe, dating from prehistory to the 20th century. Nevertheless, from its early conceptualization in 1885, the museum's focus is to collect, preserve, study, and share the richness of applied arts from the South Netherlandish region. This focus led to a large and hybrid collection with a main body of 17th and 18th century objects tied to the history and roots of this territory. However, aside from the publication of a number of exhibition catalogues on sub-collections in the 1970's, little scientific research has been done to date. Traditionally, these few catalogues primarily focus on the art historical context of the exhibited items; leaving other scientific disciplines as well as the large number of depot-items untouched. In recent years, several pilot studies and a previous BELSPO research project in collaboration with the UAntwerp showed that the depot contains high-level objects and object-groups which are awaiting discovery and scientific study. The proposed HOME-AGE project (pronounced 'homage') aims to close the knowledge gap on this key collection; and in general, that of the applied arts from the South Netherlandish home between the contra-reformation and the Age of Enlightenment. The FED-tWIN research profile will complete and open-up the collection's context through the study of the collection's archives, the compilation of an exhaustive historiography on South Netherlandish applied arts and an in-depth material technical study of the objects. The above will generate new knowledge and research topics within the domain. The project is divided into several work packages (WP's). In WP 1 a historical and technical state-of-the-art is obtained through literature and archival research. The project foresees a synergetic collaboration with the ongoing 2019 FED-tWIN RMARCH project focusing on the FSI's archival research. Next, a corpus of objects is selected through an audit and classification (WP2). This corpus is studied on a material technical level (WP3). The acquired knowledge and new insights from the previous WP's are then contextualized and centralized in the online HOME-AGE network platform (WP4). Throughout the project, the acquired knowledge and experiences will be disseminated towards a broad audience and heritage education (WP5). The outcome is fivefold. First, the audit, historiography, and the archival study complete the information back-log of the FSI's collection. In addition, insights into the materiality and the history of conservation will allow adequate actions to be taken to safeguard the collection for future generations. Second, the transdisciplinary scientific study will generate new knowledge about the relations between the material technical history and art-history of applied arts in this culturally diverse region. Third, the synergy between the FSI and the UAntwerp will challenge, inspire, and feed the educational programmes of both partners. Fourth: the online HOME-AGE open-access platform will foster general interest and instigate, promote, and assist scholarly research of South Netherlandish applied arts and European art technical history. Fifth: This FED-tWIN aims to consolidate and stimulate the ongoing FSI/UAntwerp partnership towards the future, enhancing scientific expertise, promoting science and heritage education.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van der Snickt Geert
• Fellow: Cattersel Vincent

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

A gilded Empire table from the collection of the KMKG-MRAH in Brussels. The design of this table was published in the renowned design book by architects Percier and Fontaine: 'Receuil de décoration interieurs' (1801). The white marble tabletop rests on water gilded and oil-gilded floral scrollwork and a base. The gilding is delaminating, and historical restoration treatment are degraded to a degree that these impact the overall aesthetics and cannot guarantee optimal preservation. This research includes studying the art-historical and material-technological context and a conservation treatment.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cattersel Vincent

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project will study and perform the conservation-restoration treatment of two objects from the Design Museum (Ghent): (1) a ceramic sculpture by Pierre Caille, a 20th-century Belgian artist celebrated for his imaginative and playful ceramics and sculptures; and (2) an anonymous 19th-century wooden liquor cabinet. The primary aim of this project is to situate both works individually within their respective art-historical and technical contexts, while also documenting and evaluating their current condition of preservation. Based on the findings of the former, tailored treatment proposals will be developed that serve as the foundation for the subsequent conservation and restoration. The project will proceed in several stages, in chronological order: (1) the material and technical analysis of the construction and the various types of decoration; (2) a detailed assessment and documentation of the present state of preservation; (3) the development of a reversible, well-motivated treatment strategy for among others the surface cleaning, stabilisation of fragile or structurally weakened areas, and the reintegration of lacunae. Finally, after consultation and approval for the treatment with the respective stakeholders, (4) the conservation and/or restoration treatment will be executed in accordance with the Design Museum Ghent internal guidelines and the international ethical and professional standards.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cattersel Vincent

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Material technical study and conservation treatment of a 17th century Crucifix from the collection of the Carolus Borromeus church, Antwerp. This crucifix - decorated with ebonised wood, ebony, turtle shell and silver repousé figurines, is deemed to be a representative high quality work of a 17th century Antwerp crucifix. This projects involves the art historical and material technical contextualisation and a conservation treatment to stabilise and optimise its conservation for future generations. The project is carried out in context of the FED-tWIN HOME-AGE project.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cattersel Vincent

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project focuses on a unique showpiece table that is part of the Masterpieces List Flanders. The table was manufactured by Pierre Gole, ébéniste du Roi, in 1663 in Paris for the furnishing of the Chateau de Vincennes for Louis XIV. The carcass of the table and the drawer are made of oak wood (as well as presumably the blind wood). The tabletop, side fronts, legs, and cross foot are decorated with various decorative techniques: (1) paintings of flowers, fruits, crawling and flying wildlife, jewels and masks under polished transparent horn; (2) a marquetry of ebony, bone and tortoiseshell; and (3) mother-of-pearl fragments embedded in a black European lacquer matrix (so-called lacque burgauté). Currently, the transparent horn has become undulated and the lacque burgauté has lifted in several areas. Since both decorative techniques are vastly understudied and understood, this project aims to study the material technical context in order to propose a proper conservation and restoration strategy. To achieve this goal, this project will search for and study historical and recent written and visual sources, characterize the original materials and techniques using methods such as portable XRF, macro-XRF, SEM-EDX, and optical microscopy (UV, VIS, POL). Based on the acquired information from this characterization, we will reconstruct the historical technology with the purpose of testing various conservation and restoration treatment option. These methods will then be evaluated and compared.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cattersel Vincent

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

During the renovation of the Sint-Andreas and Ghislenus church of Belsele (BE), over 200 fragments of a polychromed medieval barrel vault were discovered. The research consisted of the study and (art) historical contextualisation of the found fragments through a material-technical analysis and recent and historical sources. Based on the results of this study, a condition report and conservation treatment is written.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Cattersel Vincent

Research team(s)

• Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)

Project type(s)

• Research Project