CONSERVATION and Restoration studios

The Metal Conservation and Restoration Studio  focuses mainly on the restoration and conservation of metal artefacts – mostly silver, copper, pewter and iron, as well as other metals and alloys. It also treats collection pieces made of wood, glass, stone, porcelain and ceramics. The main task of the conservators is to take systematic care of the museum's extensive collections, which also includes protecting the objects from damaging external influences in the depositories.

The studio collaborates with the museum's other departments when selecting collection pieces for exhibitions (catalogue Defying the Beast) and for publications (Silver Judaica).






 

 

Examples of conservation and restoration

Torah pointer
Inv. No. JMP 013.515, hammered and cast silver, Prague, 1815, maker: IN, length 275 mm

Conserved by Pavel Veselý and Klára Čechlovská in the JMP's Metal Conservation and Restoration Studio in 2010
Due to the type of damage (upper portion broken off at attachment to central knop), the pointer required extensive restoration.
 

Torah finial
Inv. No. JMP 002.945/01, hammered, chased and gilt silver, Opava, 2nd half of 18th cent., maker: AD, height 228 mm

Conserved by Pavel Veselý and Klára Čechlovská in the JMP's Metal Conservation and Restoration Studio in 2010
This finial is a fairly unique example of Torah ornaments that were made in the area of what was then Austrian Silesia. Conserving the finial made it possible to better decipher the maker's mark and to accurately determine its place of origin.




























 

The Textile Conservation and Restoration Workshop focuses mainly on the restoration and conservation of items from the museum's textile collection. In addition to comprehensive conservation, the stuido also prepares collection pieces both for exhibitions and for long-term storage (an integral part of preventative conservation). More information about the work of the Textile Conservation and Restoration Studio is provided in the book Textiles from Bohemian and Moravian Synagogues.

The studio collaborates with the museum's other departments when selecting collection pieces for exhibitions (catalogue Defying the Beast) and for publications (May God Let Him Grow)
 

Examples of conservation and restoration 

Torah mantle
Inv. No. JMP 007.684, silk, velvet, metal thread, appliqué embroidery, no date, 2nd half of the 19th century, acquired by the museum in 1942-1945 from the 'Ivančice' collection point

Conserved externally by Jana Bureš Víchová in 2011
Prior to treatment, this item had the kind of damage that one might expect of a silk textile from the latter half of the 19th century: damage to the fabric binding, many threads completely loose.




Cover
Inv. No. JMP 178.569, wool, silk, yarn, chain-stitch embroidery, 1729, acquired by the museum throught its reserch in the Luže Genizah

Conserved in the museum´s studio by Helena Votočková and Veronika Nauschová in 2000 
This cover was found in a synagogue genizah (storeroom) in Luže, eastern Bohemia. Prior to treatment, it showed all the signs of demage that one might expect of a textile from an archaeological find. For many textiles found in genizot, it is possible to determine their original use only after a thorough conservation. 



 

The Paper and Parchment Conservation and Restoration Studio  focuses on the restoration and conservation of objects in the museum's Archives, Library, Shoah History Department, Photo Archive, Visual Arts Collection and the Collection of Manuscripts and Genizah Papers. In addition to comprehensive conservation, the studio also prepares collection pieces both for exhibitions and for long-term storage (an integral part of preventative conservation).

The studio collaborates with the museum's other departments when selecting collection pieces for exhibitions (catalogue Path of Life) and for publications (Hebrew Printing in Bohemia and Moravia).
 

Examples of conservation and restoration

Ze ha- shulhan plaque (adornment for a festive table)
Inv. No. JMP 177.937 (G01-001M), paper, graphite pencil, colouring, manuscript, undated, 2nd half of 18th cent., manner of acquisition: JMP research, place of acquisition: Luže genizah

Conserved externally by Linda Řeháková in 1998
When found in the genizah, the plaque was torn, creased and dusty. During its restoration, the two parts were combined into a whole, pasted with Japanese paper; appropriately coloured acid-free paper was added in certain places. 

Prayers for the cantor and memorial prayers (Memorbuch) at the Old-New Synagogue in Prague
Inv. No. JMP 009.503 (Ms 113), parchment, paper, leather, manuscript, pen-and-ink drawing, colouring, late 16th cent. – 18th cent., manner of acquisition: shipped to the museum in 1942-1945, collection point: Prague

Conserved externally by Jana Dernovšková in 2009
The original arrangement of the manuscript was damaged in conjunction with its rebinding in the mid-19th century. During its conservation, the arrangement was repaired in accordance with the original Hebrew foliation and with the index. The parchment was straightened, greasy stains were removed, and Japanese paper and a collagen membrane were added. The individual parts of the book block were sewn together in the original way using linen thread on leather strips.

 

 

 

Rare printed book: Pesikta Rabbati
Inv. No. 1.042/Acc. No. 2007/1097, rare printed book, Pesikta Rabbati, [Prague], [1657, s.n.], title page missing, original half-leather binding, leather corners and laces, cardboard

Conserved by Ondřej Zatloukal in the JMP's Paper Conservation and Restoration Studio in 2012

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