Pope Alexander VII's antependium at St. John's Co-Cathedral Museum, Valletta : research and conservation

Abstract

This study is designed to show that textile conservation like all other conservation is not a craft but a multidisciplinary study, which includes history, science and manufacturing techniques. Therefore this dissertation stresses the importance of the documentation of an artefact and also clarifies what the work of a conservator involves. In the introductory chapter the ethical issues were outlined and the methodological approaches are also discussed. Chapter two provides information about the history of the antependium, which gave this precious artefact its correct identity, thus illustrating the importance of researching in libraries about the history of the artefact. Chapter three deals with technical and scientific research techniques. It is important because it speaks about the ground fabric, embroidery techniques and the manufacture of the metal yarns. The scientific research helped one to understand what materials were used to manufacture the antependium. Conservation treatment, chapter four, is divided into three sections. The first section deals about the state of conservation, the second about the treatment decision and the third section is about the recommended display system.