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Restoration and Conservation

The objects in the Kunstgewerbemuseum’s collection are made from a wide range of materials and combinations of materials. Close cooperation with the variousconservation departments at the museum is essential to ensure that the collection is properly cared for. The museum has four conservation studios,each specialised in a different area and divided into the material groups: wood, metal, textiles, and glass and ceramics.

An integral part of anyconservation and restoration work is conducting and interpreting technical and scientific analyses in order to gather information on how an object was made,its material properties, degradation processes, age, and alterations to its original state. From these findings, a concept can be derived for the restoration of the object,and adjusted tothe level of damage it has incurred. This includes determining the scope and type of measures to be undertaken and what materials should be used. The proposed materials and new techniques may also need to be tested in advance. The object is then restored at the museum’sstudios with the help of external specialists, if necessary.

Our conservatorsregularly take part ininterdisciplinary research projects in cooperation with other scientists and art historians in the fields of technology and conservation science.

The conservation departments at the Kunstgewerbemuseum are also responsible for determiningand monitoring theenvironmental conditions required for the optimum preservation of objects in storage,such as temperature, humidity and light protection,as well aspreparing objects for exhibition and transport. A further aspect of their work is caring for national and international loans.The conservators establish guidelines for the conditions required to conserve the objects and liaise with the curators on site to ensure that they are implemented.