Research team

Expertise

Conservation and restoration, and the scientific study of (non) polychromed sculpture, furniture, and organic materials (ivory, bone, tortoise shell,...)

Historical Materials and Techniques of the South Netherlandish Home in the MRAH-KMKG collections (HOME-AGE). 01/09/2021 - 31/08/2031

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)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Project show piece table Pierre Gole - Phase I and Phase II. 03/03/2023 - 25/02/2024

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)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project

Condition report and treatment proposal for artifact from a medieval barrel vault (Belsele, BE) 08/03/2022 - 30/06/2022

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)

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

  • Research Project