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Restoration department: stone materials

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Information on the activity

The Laboratory

Location

The restoration laboratory of the stone materials department is located within the OPD’s historical headquarters in via degli Alfani, 78.

History

This is one of the Opificio’s ‘historical’ departments, in activity since the end of the 19th century. The restoration of stone artefacts was the first and natural consequence of the Opificio’s transformation from an art workshop to a restoration centre. This new activity began in the 1880s and expanded beyond the field of its previous specialisations, intarsia and commesso, Florentine mosaic. It mainly focused on sculptures and stone artefacts as a consequence of the rising interest and activity in the restoration of historical buildings. After only a few years of operation in this area, the Opificio earned a solid reputation thanks to its proven experience with stone materials and sculptural techniques, which at the time constituted the wealth of knowledge required of a restorer. Its prominence in this field attracted challenging restoration requests concerning the artistic heritage of the entire national territory.

Restoration activity, research, training

In recent times, the concern for problems related to the conservation of outdoor sculptures damaged by environmental pollution has increased this department’s commitment to operational and research activities, in collaboration with scientific experts both within and outside the Opificio. These include the CNR (National Research Council) in Florence, particularly with IEQ (Institute of Quantum Electronics) regarding the use of lasers in stone artefact conservation, and with ICVBC (Institute for the Conservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage) and with various university departments, mainly of Earth Sciences and Chemistry, on a national scale. Among the international partnerships is a project involving the Getty Institute for Conservation, Los Angeles, which deals with diagnostic aspects and testing of new restoration products.

The department’s conservation work is carried out on artefacts that behold the greatest interest and technical challenge, as well as on artefacts that can be usefully integrated into the dedicated curricula of the OPD’s Higher Education School (SAFS – Scuola di Alta Formazione e Studio) for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, which is one of the most popular programmes, due to favourable prospects in employment. Refresher courses and internships in this department are also in high demand.

In addition to the restorations conducted by the Opificio in the laboratory or on external sites, the department also operates a consulting activity, for both practical and scientific problems, which is often requested for the stone parts of monumental buildings.

 

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Professional training programmes

OPD. Settore di restauro Materiali lapidei