Restoration

The area of restoration and conservation is responsible for researching material cultural heritage and preserving it for present and future generations. From an ethical point of view, each individual object is inseparably linked to the community from which it originated and its history of use. The aim of restoration is thus to protect and document not only the object but also all the information it contains. To this end, scientific methods are used to analyse materials, manufacturing techniques, traces of use and causes of damage. Ethnographic collection objects pose a special challenge due to their enormous diversity of materials and complex manufacturing techniques. The restorers at the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum specialise in painted objects, metal, ceramics as well as organic materials such as wood and textiles. An important area of their work is preventive conservation. By optimising climate, lighting and storage placement and providing rigorous pest control, they protect the material, slowing down the ageing processes. Conservators are also responsible for the mounting and installation of objects within the framework of exhibition set-ups. Moreover, they supervise the worldwide lending and borrowing of objects. In cooperation with the experts responsible for different collections and external scientific institutes such as the Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences, they contribute to research on the collection. This extensive knowledge promotes the public understanding and appreciation of cultural heritage.