Emergency Conservation of Earthquake-Damaged Objects of Polychromed Wood in Friuli, Italy

Publisher Summary The series of earthquakes that struck Friuli, Italy, in 1976 were disastrous both for the inhabitants and cultural resources of this region; 1000 people were killed and hundreds were injured and left homeless. Several historic towns were leveled, hundreds of churches were destroyed or seriously affected, and almost 1000 polychromed wooden objects were damaged. Emergency relief for the inhabitants began immediately and rescue of the art and architecture within a few days after the first earthquakes. Through the assistance of American institutions and foundations and with the generous support of the Italian authorities, American conservators were given the opportunity to participate in the post-earthquake program to conserve Friuli's damaged art. Specifically, the 428 damaged objects of polychromed wood were examined, a small laboratory for emergency treatments was established, and 21 objects were treated. This chapter presents this work and its lessons and ramifications for polychromed wood in the United States' seismic zones. The chapter discusses three general points: (1) types of damage, (2) materials and techniques of emergency conservation measures, and (3) preparedness.