Józef Mehoffer House
ul. Krupnicza 26
31-123 Kraków
tel. (48-12) 37 08 196 (197)
The studio is responsible for conserving the sculpture collections of all the Museum's departments, from Department XI – Antiquities to Department II – Modern Polish Painting and Sculpture. Among the exhibits are sculptures made from classical materials such as stone (marble, sandstone, limestone etc.), gypsum, terracotta, clay, modelling clay, wood, and metal.
As well as classical materials modern art uses and combines a whole range of synthetic materials and materials which are not traditionally thought of as sculptural materials. The problem of conserving synthetic materials is relatively new to the field of conservation. The methods used to protect such materials are still developing and involve science to a far greater degree than classical conservation. The mechanisms of changes occurring in synthetic materials are not yet fully understood. Deterioration of synthetic materials is an irreversible process so prevention plays a key role in their conservation i.e. ensuring suitable storage conditions for an artefact to inhibit the process of deterioration. Before performing conservation work it is therefore vital to analyse the state of preservation, the materials, and storage conditions of an object.
The problems of conserving synthetic materials are illustrated by the sculptures of Alina Szapocznikow, which are made from polyester resin, or elements of Tadeusz Kantor's scenographic structures made from latex and PVC.
Preventative measures include assessment of the state of preservation or works being loaned out and supervision of exhibition and transport conditions.
The workshop also makes gypsum casts. For example we made casts of three sections of Early Christian sarcophagi from the Princes Czartoryski Museum. These were commissioned by the Vatican Museum, which has the other fragments of these objects.
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 Antonina Rożniatowska, Wajdelota
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