VARNISHES ON BAROQUE CHURCH FURNISHINGS: IN SEARCH OF A SUITABLE CONSERVATION APPROACH

AbstractThis paper deals with the conservation of exquisitely veneered altars of south German eighteenth-century monastery churches. The concepts applied were the result of years of inter-disciplinary collaboration among conservators, scientists, art historians and architects. Of prime consideration during their development were the theological, liturgical and use requirements of the owners. The result was a variety of conservation treatments customized to the objects being treated. For this paper, three very different case studies have been selected, for which justifiable concepts were developed only after extensive consideration and discussion. In one case, an original coating was replicated from the analysis of surviving fragments, while in the second case the original coating was replicated only on abraded and faded areas. In the last case, non-original varnish was surface cleaned but left in situ, since it was impossible to separate it from the original surface. In no instance do they represent an 'i...