OUR RESTORATION & CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

For the creation of concrete, object-based restoration concepts, we are in close collaboration and discussion with relevant conservationists, scientists and art historians. In this way, we can provide specific solutions for individual questions and problems.

THE ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

The preservation and maintenance of historic stained glass is very important to us. The original and the comprehensive conservation of the original substance are our top priorities during restoration.

Our restorers are bound by the ethical principles of the Venice Charter and the guidelines of the Corpus Medii Aevi. In order to meet the requirements of the rapidly changing conditions in the field of monument preservation and restoration even more efficiently, a specialised department for the restoration of historic stained glass has been set up and a team of academic restorers and stained glass artists has been hired.

NETWORKS

With the establishment of this new department, a network of partnerships and collaborations has developed, enabling the company to offer tailor-made complete solutions using advanced, state-of-the-art techniques and the latest findings. Of course, being equipped with the latest equipment also plays a major role in this.

RESTORATION CONCEPTS

We work closely with relevant conservationists, scientists and art historians to develop concrete, object-specific restoration concepts.

This enables us to offer specific solutions to individual questions and problems. Our workshop and our team have a wide range of techniques, processes and equipment at their disposal and are always ready to undergo further training and develop new methods. This enables us to guarantee that we can meet the diverse requirements of monument conservation work. Our numerous collaborations have always proven to be fruitful. One example is the first ‘lead-free lead glazing’, which was initiated by a monument conservation project as part of a full-pane doubling.

We are happy to advise you on site during the preliminary planning stage, show you the possibilities based on extensive archive material and prepare non-binding offers, including photographic documentation and expert opinions. Our services range from minor repairs and resealing work to extensive large-scale projects.

DOCUMENTATION, CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION

Every restoration project begins with a thorough preliminary examination of the existing structure and an assessment of its condition. A restoration plan is then drawn up and discussed with the relevant conservationists, owners and architects. Once the restoration has been approved by the monument preservation authorities, the actual work can begin, such as stabilising the paint layer, cleaning the glass surfaces, bonding cracks, reversible retouching, removing duplicate glass, soldering lead cracks, making necessary additions, etc.

Depending on the requirements, the conservation and restoration work is accompanied by comprehensive photographic and written documentation.

Our high qualified Team in the Restoration Department

If you have any questions or need some more information, please write an email or call us!

MARKUS KLEINE
Dipl. des. hist.
Head Restoration Dept.
+49 5251 1609731
email
HENRIKE SCHMIDT
Dipl. Rest. M.A.
Deputy Manager Rest. Dept.
+49 5251 1609745
email
STEFAN MERSCHMANN
Head of concrete glass restoration
+49 5251 1609735
email

CHRISTA HEIDRICH
Dipl. Rest. MA
+49 5251 1609732
email
RONJA LAMMERS
Dipl. Rest. (FH)
Master glass painter
+49 5251 1609734
email
SIMONE SCHMIDT
Dipl. Rest.
+49 5251 1609738
email

FURTHER TRAINING AND PUBLICATIONS

The training and development of our employees is an important and personal concern for us. Through participation and active involvement in restoration conferences and research projects, our employees receive ongoing training and are kept up to date with the latest research in glass restoration. Preparing specialist presentations and publications about our work is an integral part of everyday life in our restoration workshop.

Our head of the restoration department, Markus Kleine, is an accredited member of Icon and VDR. The ACR certification attests to his in-depth knowledge and expertise in conservation.

SEPERATE WORKSHOP ROOMS

A separate, specialised department for the restoration of historical glass paintings was set up in order to meet the rapidly changing demands for monument preservation in a detailed and efficient manner. A team of highly qualified graduate restorers was hired. The workshop rooms are optimally equipped with regard to work safety, fire protection and theft.

Interdisciplinary collaboration
With the creation of this new department, a network of partnerships and cooperations has developed. This allows us to offer tailor-made complete solutions within the framework of state-of-the-art techniques and with the latest insights. Of course, high-quality and extensive equipment plays an important role, and this is constantly expanded in a meaningful way.

TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT

For documentation purposes, we have a high-quality selection of large-scale cameras, SLR cameras, digital SLR cameras, microscopes, etc. and a professional photographic laboratory with ideal, adjustable light conditions. The graphical documentation is possible both manually and digitally on mapping devices. We have aerosol nebulisers for the treatment of microbial infestations, various climatic measuring devices and we are familiar with the handling of glass sensors in the protective glazing gap. For transport, we offer data loggers that monitor vibrations to which the material being transported is exposed.

Each restoration concept is as individual as the artwork to be restored
In order to be able to plan a tailor-made conservation or restoration for a historical glass painting, we are in close and lively exchange with the respective builders, specialist planners and the relevant monument conservationists. As a rule, the result is a viable and reasonable decision based on all-round consensus.

FURTHER TOPICS:

RECONSTRUCTION
PROTECTIVE GLAZING
CONCRETE GLAZING
REFERENCES