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Restoration

Although the word "restoration", which comes from Latin, means to restore to its original state, this is precisely what is impossible. Previous damage cannot be undone. The causes and consequences can only be eliminated and the progression of the damage prevented or delayed. The primary goal for objects in the care of the museum is therefore to prevent damage.

Conservation measures (consolidation, corrosion removal) aim to stabilize the condition. Increasingly, however, attention is being focused on preventive conservation. By positively influencing the conditions of display, storage and handling, unnecessary damage is avoided and natural deterioration is largely slowed.

Restoration and conservation work is carried out by trained specialists, whose work has become increasingly demanding in recent decades. Today, it is necessary to carry out theoretically and organizationally demanding projects, which, in addition to a wide-ranging craft training, also requires comprehensive knowledge in various fields of natural science and the humanities. However different the task of the restorer may be, the focus is always on the irreplaceability of cultural assets.

At the Historical museum Frankfurt, six restorers from various disciplines are dedicated to this demanding activity. They are responsible for the preservation of more than 600,000 individual objects made of different materials and using various techniques.

Restoration

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