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Main Building
al. 3 Maja 1
30-062 Kraków
tel. (48-12) 295553
fax (48-12) 2955555
e-mail: dyrekcja@muz-nar.krakow.pl
The first mention in historical records of textiles conservation in the National Museum in Krakow is from a report written in 1910: '…we have managed to completely organise the department of textiles and embroidery. Several severely damaged pieces have been repaired…'
The Textiles and Clothing Conservation Studio was founded in 1938 and continues to operate to this day. The studio is responsible for the conservation of all the textile items in the various departments of the National Museum in Krakow, which together form the largest and one of the most valuable collections of textile artefacts in Poland. The collection includes objects made using various techniques and fabrics: archaeological fabrics, tapestries, carpets, kilims, wall-hangings, European and oriental silk fabrics, liturgical vestments, flags, garments and fashion accessories.
The studio's hundred years of experience have allowed us to acquire wide knowledge of the various methods used in textiles conservation. We are therefore able to objectively assess these methods and select appropriate conservation techniques which comply with worldwide conservation principles and professional ethics. Conservation is carried out on the basis of individual programs which are specially prepared for each artefact. It is often necessary to cooperate with specialists in chemistry, physics or microbiology. The results of laboratory analysis and expert opinions determine the way that textile artefacts are conserved and exhibited.
The activities of the workshop are not limited to conservation of textiles – preventative measures are also extremely important. The textile artefacts on display in the galleries are regularly inspected on the basis of international standards concerning atmospheric conditions and lighting, while textiles kept in storage are also regularly assessed. Conservators also participate in the organisation of permanent and temporary exhibitions and issue expert opinions on the state of preservation of objects which are to be loaned to other museums.
Over the years the studio has carried out numerous major conservation projects:
- in 1966-1967 a collection of medieval embroidered artefacts were prepared for an exhibition in Stockholm,
- in the seventies we conserved a court dress dating from the beginning of the 17th century from the Stadtmuseum in Dresden (as part of an international project),
- in the eighties we conserved a substantial portion of the Museum's collection of fans,
- in 1990-91 the studio worked on coptic textiles and fragments of Ptolomeic shrouds from the Ancient Art Collection of the Princes Czartoryski Museum,
- in 2002 the Minister of Culture and Art awarded the studio the Sybilla 2002 prize in the 'Achievements in the Field of Conservation' category for its conservation of an ensign from Moscow known as 'The Ensign of the Shuisky Tsars',
- Since 2005 the studio has been preparing artefacts for a new exhibition being organised in the Bishop Ciołek Palace. So far we have completed work on a painted fabric depicting the Death Dance from a 17th century castrum doloris.
Staff:
Studio Director: Anna Prokopowicz – Senior Conservator
Jolanta Żuber – Assistant Conservator
Anna Olkuśnik-Tabisz – Assistant Conservator
Agnieszka Pacak – Assistant Conservator
Małgorzata Filimowska – Renovator
Małgorzata Dudała-Cieśla – Renovator
Mariola Mroczek – Renovator
Elżbieta Drzewiecka – Renovator
Józefa Dudek – Technician
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