>OUR PROJECTS > RESTORATION OF 18 GOLD GLASS ARTIFACTS FROM THE VATICAN MUSEUMS' GOLD GLASS COLLECTION
RESTORATION OF 18 GOLD GLASS ARTIFACTS FROM THE VATICAN MUSEUMS' GOLD GLASS COLLECTION
April 2018
 Thanks to one of our most active and generous member, Olessia Kantor, our Chapter had the the opportunity to help restore eighteen gold glass artifacts from the golden glass collection of the Vatican Museums.
The golden glass collection of the Vatican Museums is amongst the most remarkable worldwide; and these pieces belong to the most precious glass productions of the late ancient ages. A refined technique allowed the creation of glass pottery, mostly plates and bowls, which were decorated with representations made in gold leaf that were set into two layers of glass.
The majority of these artifacts were found within the Roman catacombs, where they were fixed to the finishing mortar of the cemetery plots. For the most part, they are decorated with features and subjects of the Christian figurative repertoire: biblical and theological themes like the traditio legis, the concordia apostolorum and representations of saints and martyrs.
Moreover, there were also family portraits and representations of pagan mythology and Jewish tradition. The restoration intervention aims to restore eighteen of these very important relics and to research a more adequate preservative system to be carried out in specific containers.
State of Preservation.
The preservation status of these pieces is different. In fact, other than the artifacts with better preservation status that are held in the Christian Museum, there are also numerous artifacts within the storage rooms. Among these, there is a vast amount of bases with golden decorations. The latter are in fragmented conditions and their surfaces have been affected due to the passing of time, thus covered in adhesives from the 1700's – nonetheless fundamental for the iconographic aspect. These artifacts are greatly important for the research concerning the evolutions of the first Christian belief, the reconstruction of history, culture and religious life of the late ancient ages.
Date: IV Century BC
Dimensions: From 2 to 10 cm (diameter)
Materials: Golden glass
 
The Italian & International Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums wish to thank Olessia Kantor (Israel) for her generous support towards this project!
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