Annual publications

Förord
Thomas Petéus

Att bevara ett levande kulturarv - konservering av kyrkobyggnader och inventarier
To Maintain Cultural Heritage - Conservation of churches and their Inventories
abstract
Gunilla Lagnesjö

Konservering av predikstolen i Oslo Domkyrka
Conservation and Restoration of the Pulpit in the Oslo Cathedral
abstract
Thomas Petéus, Richard Francén

Glöm det du ser!
Ignore the obvious
abstract
Richard Francén

Klimateffekt på en nykonserverad 1700-tals målning
Consequences of climate on an 18th century painting
abstract
Ingalill Nyström

...Mitt hjärta är ditt, ditt hjärta är mitt...
Secrets of a heart
abstract
Inger Nyström

Några förbättringar av pappersgjutartekniken
Some improvments of the leaf-casting technique
abstract
Martin Ericson, Galia Kasseva

Medeltidsutställningen "Porten till väster"

Konferenser och studieresor

Nordiska Konservatorsforbund XIV Kongress
E.C.C.O.Congress
SILK - Different Aspects
Modern Art - Who Cares?
Vem var Abegg?
Raphaelprojekt
Concept - Design - Execution in Flemish Painting (1550 - 1700)
Vidareutbildning för papperkonservatorer

Konserveringsavdelningarnas berättelser över verksamhetsåret 1997
Utförda arbeten under år 1997
Stiftelsens verksamhetsberättelse 1997

To Maintain Cultural Heritage - Conservation of Churches and their Inventories

Gunilla Lagnesjö

Abstract
The Christian religion has strongly influenced life and culture in Sweden during the last 1000 years. From the very beginning of the Christian period the erecting, decorating and caretaking of churches have been, and still is, important.

Conservation of objects from the churches has been a main part of the conservation activities in Sweden during the 20th century. Since SVK started to work on commission the church has been an important client. Different tasks have been executed: conservation programmes, conservation and restoration of objects and interiors as well as education and guidance.

The caretaking of a church that might have been built many hundred years ago is often a complex task. To protect the churches and their inventories from neglect the state sat up rules and regulations at an early point. These are meant to protect this valuable heritage but also to guide the keepers of the churches in their work.

Together with the diocese of Gothenburg SVK has produced a booklet on caretaking of churches and their inventories. The aim of the publication is to activate the local assembly to be observant and when necessary contact the right experts. The expectation is to get a more active support and to detect injuries at an earlier point. Hopefully this will in the end lower the total cost for the maintenance of the cultural heritage of the church.

back to årsskrift 1997

Conservation and Restoration of the Pulpit in the Oslo Cathedral

Thomas Petéus, Richard Francén

Abstract
In 1997 the chathedral of Oslo celebrated its threehundred year anniversary. The pulpit, part of an ensemble also consisting of a huge altarpiece and a polychome christening fount, is famous for its impressive acanthus woodcarvings and gildings. The conservation and restoration work on the pulpit was taken on comission by the Studio of the Western Sweden Conservators Trust (SVK). The work was executed between December 1996 and Maj 1997.

Structural work on the gilding was carried out in the Gothenburg studio while the architectural part was restord in situ. The work mainly consisted of local consolidation of gold to the wooden support, cleaning and remowing later glazes from the gold as well as reconstructing local paint to panels. Structural restoration work was also made to the woodconstruction

back to årsskrift 1997

Invisible causes of decay

Richard Francén

Abstract
Wood has been used for interior constructions and objects in our churches since medieval time. The tradition of using wood is long and the skill is significant.

The churches had no heating until the middle of the 20th-century which made their indoor climate very stable. Shortly after centralheating had become common in the churches the problem with cracking of wood and paintlayers became a problem.

Today it is important that the conservators are fully aware of the mechanisms of humidity and the problems that can occur. The ideal situation is when the wood conservator and the painting conservator are working in a team. The problems can be minimized through effective preventive and interventive conservation activities.

back to årsskrift 1997

Consequences of climate on an 18th centrury painting

Ingalill Nyström

Abstract
A resently laminated 1800th century painting got deformed after a short time hanging in the church. The deformation was caused by the high indoor RH and temperature. The lamination technique in this specific case was not good for the painting. So it had to be reconserved. The risks with lamination are illustrated and discussed.

back to årsskrift 1997

Secrets of a heart.

Inger Nyström

Abstract
Secrets of a heart. The on-going examination of an amulet found on a female skeleton in Nya Lödöse in 1916 is presented. The content of the amulet consists of 3 layers, a piece of paper, a piece of silk- and a piece linencloth, which conseal the "secrets" of the woman - a plant. The result is not yet ready and conclusions are still to be drawn. But only this initial work shows the possibility of gaining more and thorough information hidden in objects allready excavated. There is also a question of ethics when dealing with human remains and belongings.

back to årsskrift 1997

Conservation and Restoration of the Pulpit in the Oslo Cathedral

Thomas Petéus, Richard Francén

Abstract
In 1997 the chathedral of Oslo celebrated its threehundred year anniversary. The pulpit, part of an ensemble also consisting of a huge altarpiece and a polychome christening fount, is famous for its impressive acanthus woodcarvings and gildings. The conservation and restoration work on the pulpit was taken on comission by the Studio of the Western Sweden Conservators Trust (SVK). The work was executed between December 1996 and Maj 1997.

Structural work on the gilding was carried out in the Gothenburg studio while the architectural part was restord in situ. The work mainly consisted of local consolidation of gold to the wooden support, cleaning and remowing later glazes from the gold as well as reconstructing local paint to panels. Structural restoration work was also made to the woodconstruction

back to årsskrift 1997

Invisible causes of decay

Richard Francén

Abstract
Wood has been used for interior constructions and objects in our churches since medieval time. The tradition of using wood is long and the skill is significant.

The churches had no heating until the middle of the 20th-century which made their indoor climate very stable. Shortly after centralheating had become common in the churches the problem with cracking of wood and paintlayers became a problem.

Today it is important that the conservators are fully aware of the mechanisms of humidity and the problems that can occur. The ideal situation is when the wood conservator and the painting conservator are working in a team. The problems can be minimized through effective preventive and interventive conservation activities.

back to årsskrift 1997

Consequences of climate on an 18th centrury painting

Ingalill Nyström

Abstract
A resently laminated 1800th century painting got deformed after a short time hanging in the church. The deformation was caused by the high indoor RH and temperature. The lamination technique in this specific case was not good for the painting. So it had to be reconserved. The risks with lamination are illustrated and discussed.

back to årsskrift 1997

Secrets of a heart.

Inger Nyström

Abstract
Secrets of a heart. The on-going examination of an amulet found on a female skeleton in Nya Lödöse in 1916 is presented. The content of the amulet consists of 3 layers, a piece of paper, a piece of silk- and a piece linencloth, which conseal the "secrets" of the woman - a plant. The result is not yet ready and conclusions are still to be drawn. But only this initial work shows the possibility of gaining more and thorough information hidden in objects allready excavated. There is also a question of ethics when dealing with human remains and belongings.

back to årsskrift 1997

Some improvements of the leaf-casting technique

Martin Ericson, Galia Kasseva

Abstract
Two years ago the paper conservation department was provided with a leaf-casting machine designed and sold by Per Laursen in Humlebaeck, Denmark. In this article some tests and experiments to improve the efficiency of the technique and to refine the final results are presented. A leafcaster is used to fill in holes and missing parts in damaged paper documents with a mixture of water, fibres and a sizing agent. Once the document has been filled in and sized the document and the new fibres are flattened in between synthetic filts by high pressure. At the pressing stage it happened that the document stuck to the filts, resulting in tears when the documents was removed. To avoid this, several alternative sizing agents and filts were tested. 1 % gelatine in water mixed with 1 % MC in water proved to be a well working sizing agent. It was easily absorbed in the repaired document and did not stick to the filts in such a high degree as the alternative sizing agents. In combination with a rubber based filt treated with a teflon solution the problems with documents sticking to the filts were practically eliminated provided the gelatine/MC sizing agent was used.

back to årsskrift 1997