D14_MT_2014_Modena, Civic Museum, Doorman with coat of arms of Casa d'Este

Facilitated description:

 

The tapestry with the coat of arms of Casa d'Este is a large canvas work that hangs to decorate the walls.
On the tapestry there is the symbol of the Este noble family.
The tapestry was made in 1668.
The tapestry is kept at the Civic Museum of Modena. 
The La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Centre restored the tapestry in 2014. 
The restoration students participated in the intervention. 
Scientists at the Venaria Center have done scientific analysis to understand what are the original tissues and those added in later times. 
The restorers cleaned the tapestry. 
They reinforced the unskinned parts. 
They put fabric bands behind the tapestry to reinforce it. 
Eventually they put an adhesive band behind the tapestry to hang the tapestry.

 

 

 

 

Abstract of the intervention: 

 

The restoration of the tapestry with the coat of arms of the Este family of the Civic Museum of Modena was carried out as part of an ordinary teaching project, which involved the students of the second year of the Course in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage.
The intervention was preceded by a diagnostic campaign (fluorescence induced by ultraviolet UVF, black and white infrared relfettography NIR1 and its processing in false color NIR1-FC, processing of ultraviolet in false color UV-FC) which allowed to investigate the state of conservation of the find and to identify the reweaving interventions of later times. 
The restoration was carried out with a view to minimal intervention, preserving the old restoration interventions now historicized. 
The intervention provided for a cleaning by micro-aspiration and mechanical action. Consolidations of the uncoated parts and small stops on linen support were therefore carried out for the areas affected by mechanical degradation. The edges have been integrated with new selvedges and the lining has been replaced with new reinforcements, respecting the original method with perimeter bands. Finally, a Velcro band was applied for exposure.
 

Bibliography

L. Lorenzini, S. Morales, T. Cavaleri, A. Piccirillo, C. Bruscagin, F. Colman, S. Casonato, M. Chiara Furfori, L. Guarnaschelli, The tapestry of Modena: weaving with artificial and synthetic yarns. Reflections on diagnostics and restoration work, in Proceedings of the 13th IGIIC National Congress – The State of the Art, Nardini, Torino, 2015, pp. 69-77.