RESTORATION of ANTIQUE MOSAICS
Mosaics constitute a shared cultural inheritance from the Roman and Byzantine world throughout the Mediterranean region. Due to the vast number of mosaics presently at risk, there is an urgency to determine common problems, to promote efforts to better conserve these important historic documents and artistic creations of the past.Mosaic conservation is a practice as old as the making of mosaics themselves. Today one can still find ancient mosaics with patches that were made as part of maintenance when the floors were still in use. In more recent centuries, restoration has been widely practiced on objects of antiquity, including mosaics. And from the first decades of the twentieth century, we have fine examples of restorations. The use of lime-based mortars has allowed the development of in situ (on-site) reinforcement consolidation and has furthered the practice of maintenance in situ when possible.With almost 20 years’ experience, Enzo is highly specialized in the conservation, renovation and restoration of antique mosaics.
The most common procedures concern: consultation, cleaning, conservation, consolidation and restoration, backfilling, lifting and transfer to a museum, lifting and re-laying in situ, and consolidation in situ.
CONSOLIDATION
Through the use of a special technique, it possible to relieve the mosaic of 70% of its original weight. The procedure involves injecting special mortars into the mosaic using syringes in situ, consolidating the piece, lifting and removing it from its original back and relocating the mosaic to a new, lighter surface.
REMOVAL OF THE BACK OF THE MOSAIC
Most of the old mosaics restored in the last century were mounted on weighty concrete and iron structures, very heavy and difficult to transport, which made it extremely difficult to move them. In fact, the mosaic and its back can weigh up to 650 pounds (300 kg) per square meter.Enzo removes the heavy back and reinstalls the mosaic onto a light, inflexible surface of aluminum honeycomb. This process eliminates roughly 70% of the total weight of the piece, with obvious benefits in terms of transportation and ease of delivery.
DETACHMENT OF THE MOSAIC FROM ITS SITE
When an old mosaic is found in an archeological site, or a client wants to remove a mosaic from his floor or wall in order to reinstall it in a new location, Enzo uses spades to remove the mosaic from its original location and then relocates it to the new destination site.
FILLING IN LOST EMPTIES IN A MOSAIC
All antique Roman, Byzantine and micromosaics can be restored. Enzo is also highly accomplished at reconstructing ‘lost’ areas of mosaic, using the same kind of tiles to rebuild the damaged areas
