The Conservation Department at the Basel Historical Museum is responsible for the preservation and technological research of the collection, which is stored in three exhibition centres and nine depots.
It thus fulfils one of the five main tasks set out in the Basel Museum Act, namely preserving the collection for future generations.
The conservators and the Art Handling department ensure the professional conservation and restoration of objects, exhibition set-up and dismantling, exhibition technology and object handling, transport and logistics, depot management and the handling of loans.
The department also makes a decisive contribution to researching the collection.
Preserving the diverse collection is a daily challenge with a wide variety of tasks. The work of the conservator-restorers combines theoretical knowledge of the natural sciences, art history and art technology with manual skills. The department works in compliance with ICOM standards and professional ethics in accordance with the following strategy.
Preventive conservation refers to precautions taken to avoid or minimise future damage or loss. Potential dangers are recognised in good time and preventative measures are taken. The environmental conditions of a collection are continuously optimised. The aim is to handle the collection items with particular care, slowing down the natural ageing of the materials.
For the professional storage of museum objects in terms of preventive conservation, the environmental conditions need to be checked and regulated:
Conservation means caring for, protecting and securing a museum object. Ageing and deterioration of the cultural artefact should be delayed as much as possible. The aim is to preserve an object in its original condition as far as possible. Objects are stabilised, for example, to prevent the loss of original substance. Minor damage is treated so that it does not develop into major damage. The conservation work carried out is reversible wherever possible, meaning it can be reversed in the future.
Museum artefacts that naturally have a short lifespan due to their material or production method are also conserved insofar as this is feasible according to the current state of research.
Restoration involves measures that go beyond the preservation of art and cultural artefacts. The aim is to improve the legibility of an object so that it can be presented in the museum in an easily understandable and aesthetic way. Examples of restorations include reassembling a broken porcelain vase, repairing deformations on a dented hat or replacing lost parts on a chest of drawers.
The retouching of paintings and the rebinding of book pages are also classic restoration measures.
Every intervention on an object is documented in writing and photographically. This serves to record the intervention in the original substance and to record the changes to the object for future research and conservation measures.
Material analyses, the concept for the measures, the conservation and restoration measures actually carried out and the materials used are documented.
Art technological research is concerned with the materials from which the objects are made and their production techniques. The items in the collection are analysed using various scientific methods. Historical sources that report on manufacturing processes are also consulted. The aim is to understand the objects, their materiality and their manufacturing processes. Research results provide important information on the origin, dating and categorisation in the historical context.
In the basic research of conservation-restoration, ageing processes are investigated. For example, the effects of environmental conditions on the preservation of art and cultural assets are researched.
Another area of research involves the investigation and further development of conservation materials and processes.
All branches of conservation-restoration research are based on validated scientific and humanities findings and methods.
Art technological research is concerned with the materials from which the objects are made and their production techniques. The items in the collection are analysed using various scientific methods. Historical sources that report on manufacturing processes are also consulted. The aim is to understand the objects, their materiality and their manufacturing processes. Research results provide important information on the origin, dating and categorisation in the historical context.
In the basic research of conservation-restoration, ageing processes are investigated. For example, the effects of environmental conditions on the preservation of art and cultural assets are researched.
Another area of research involves the investigation and further development of conservation materials and processes.
All branches of conservation-restoration research are based on validated scientific and humanities findings and methods.
Konservierung und Restaurierung
Management & administration
PO box | Steinenberg 4
CH-4001 Basel
Office opening hours
8:30 – 12 AM | 13:30 – 17 PM
Reception: +41 61 205 86 00
historisches.museum(at)bs.ch
