The monuments of culture, like all living things, are subject to aging. This process is
unstoppable, but it can be slowed, stopped, the monument may be
be brought back to life. This is the task of restoration. Restoration -
is strengthening and reconstruction of destroyed, damaged or distorted
historical and cultural monuments in order to preserve their historical and
artistic value.
Furniture, as a result of human creative activity of different
historical epochs, is a monument of material culture
society, it is reflected in the conditions of life, customs and tastes of the people, it
characterizes the level of technology, gives us information about the materials and
production methods in a specific historical period in this country.
As in any other subject or product of applied art, furniture
are used a variety of materials and processing methods, and
as of genres and techniques not only of the applied arts, and other
the so-called “big” art forms,
Painting on porcelain and lacquer, molding and embossing on metal, sculpture
bone and wood, tapestry, and embossed leather, precious stones, shell
turtle, pearl – all in harmony in the furniture, the best
artistic designs that adorn the museum collections and galleries around the world.
We note with interest and pleasure to look at examples of antique furniture
museums, love and appreciate her because she is beautiful and is an important
document of its time. However, what we see in museums – it is only
modest particle-rich furniture art of the past. Collection times
consist of furniture, which has been preserved by chance, thanks to a happy
circumstances. That came to us, often in a deplorable
condition. To revive this treasure and make it public domain -
task master restorers.
Art Restoration Furniture is known for a long time. Even in the XVII and XVIII
centuries. well-known masters of furniture along with the creation of new products
restored old furniture, often while recasting it in
accordance with the fashion of his time. At that time, the furniture
treated as a purely utilitarian objects or decorative, it does not
saw the monument of culture and sought to preserve it in its original
a.
In the XIX century. there were already large firms engaged in the restoration of old
furniture. This is due to the development of machine production of furniture, crisis
crafts, the market cheap, but the rude and imperfect
products made by machine. Genuine antique furniture was
rarity, it began to appreciate and restore. However, in this period when
allowed the restoration of transformation and distortion of the furniture. At
restoring furniture restorer of a certain style in the case of loss
individual elements made up for them by their taste and their notions of
this style.
In the second half of XIX century. , a new understanding of the problems of restoration:
restoring the original appearance of the monument to the prior
study the works of furniture art relevant period. Loss
have to compensate by copying the remaining parts or similar
items. However, due to the prevalence of private
Restoration of collectibles in this period is mainly intended
commercial purposes, therefore, along with the restoration of original
existed and forgery and distortion. Private restorer sought
increase the amount of work to do as new furniture.
At the turn of the XIX and XX centuries. formed the basis of scientific restoration of museum
exhibits most fully developed in respect of monuments
architecture, monumental and easel painting. The creation of the
theory of scientific restoration of cultural monuments made by the Soviet
architects, artists and art historians. The basic principles of this theory
secured the Venice Charter of the II International Congress of Architects and
technicians (1964), as well as a number of decisions of international
Organizations on the Protection and Restoration of Monuments (UNESCO, etc.). Chief of the
these principles is that restored by a cultural monument
regarded primarily as a historical document, and value
which only increases with time, so it is distortion or
modifications are not allowed. Restoration actions should be directed
mainly on the strengthening, preservation of the monument.
As for the furniture, the theoretical foundations of scientific restoration
currently under development. Practical Restoration
based mainly on traditional methods and techniques. As in
the second half of XIX century., for the majority of the restorations is
restoration of objects as monuments of art furniture. At the same time with the
to “improve” the exposition of the form of its subject matter is often practiced
renovations, which sometimes adversely affects its condition.
In recent years, many countries have increased interest in
cultural history, the problems of preservation and restoration of works of art,
including arts and crafts and, in particular furniture. This trend is
particularly true for our country, where the preservation of cultural monuments
has become a popular thing. Everywhere revive historical and architectural
monuments destroyed by war, restored the old and creating new
memorial museums of outstanding people of our country – writers, artists,
public figures, scientists. The interiors of these museums should fill
furniture, which is also in need of restoration.
Master the art of furniture restoration is not easy. It requires
Master artist of high culture, a certain artistic
training, extensive knowledge of the history of art and furniture
technology, perfect the technique of handling a variety of
materials used in furniture.