Specialists of the Museum of Archaeology of the Republic of Tatarstan Completed an Internship at the Leading Restoration Centers of Russia

Restorers of the Museum of Archaeology of the Republic of Tatarstan, Institute of Archaeology named after A. Kh. Khalikov of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan completed an internship in the leading restoration centers of Russia: the Grabar Art Conservation Center and the State Research Institute for Restoration (GosNIIR).

Head of the ceramics and glass restoration workshop at the Grabar Art Conservation Center, artist-restorer of the highest category E. N. Sharkova guided P. Yu. Kaplan, artist-restorer of the Museum of Archaeology of the Republic of Tatarstan, in her internship course. The purpose of the internship was to learn the techniques of working with ceramic and glass archaeological items. During the internship, P. Yu. Kaplan was involved in the restoration of a zoomorphic vessel of the 17th – 18th centuries from the collection of the Museum of Archaeology of the Republic of Tatarstan. Besides, P. Yu. Kaplan studied the methods of cleaning archaeological glass, the types of adhesives used for its restoration, and the 3D technologies used for reconstruction and further exhibition.

Art restorers of the Museum of Archaeology of the Republic of Tatarstan P. V. Fedan and R. V. Kotov participated in an advanced training course at the Department of Scientific Restoration of Metal Articles of GosNIIR under the guidance of highest category art restorers M. V. Natsky and V. V. Vetluzhsky. They investigated the following unique archaeological finds: a burial mask and vial-shaped silver pendants with an embossed floral ornament from Tankeyevsky burial ground, the largest necropolis of the Volga Bolgaria origination period in the 9th-10th centuries. The mask which has been conserved and studied at GosNIIR is distinguished by its relief pattern, which also resembles eyebrows and a mustache.

The specialists successfully improved their skill in the restoration of various materials, which will be used in the work with the historical and cultural heritage items of Tatarstan, thereby preserving its prolific heritage. Based on the internship and advanced training results, it is planned to submit documents for certification in order to improve the restoration category in certain areas of expertise.

Photo: The Grabar Art Conservation Center, State Research Institute for Restoration