Professional paper
A Biconical Vessel - When, Why and How to Undertake a Reconstruction
Andrea Sardoz
; Archaeological Museum of Istria Carrarina 3, 52100 Pula
Abstract
This paper discusses the issue of when and what to restore
and when the minimum basic preconditions required by the
profession for the restoration of an artefact have not been
satisfied. Conservation and restoration were performed in
the course of the work on a biconical vessel. The conservation
process involved the documentation, analysis, cleaning and
stabilisation of the artefact. Restoration involved rebuilding
missing sections of the vessel. The basics of restoration mandate
that reconstruction not be initiated prior to conservation. In
theory ceramic vessels missing a significant portion (over 60%
of the whole) should not be the object of a restoration effort, but
should certainly be the object of conservation. In this case the
vessel was reconstructed in consultation with a curator due to
the unique quality of its ornamentation and the fineness of the
pottery and its working. For the restorer the restoration of the
vessel constituted a challenge. The specific form of the pot and its
ornamentation were a challenge faced by the restorer. Given the
fact that contemporary tools were used in the treatment of the
reconstructed section it was difficult to “imitate” the handcrafted
but detailed work of the prehistoric author.
Keywords
prehistoric pottery; cleaning; conservation; consolidation; restoration; reconstruction
Hrčak ID:
182647
URI
Publication date:
12.11.2016.
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