ETRUSCAN ITALIC MUSEUM

The Vicarello Vases

Restored thanks to the generosity of the California Chapter

These seven vessels constitute a silver votive set dedicated to Apollo. They are named after the city of Vicarello where the vessels were found during excavations in 1852. The restoration, which began in early September 2010, started with a careful study of the technical execution of the artifacts (lamination, embossing, engraving, chiseling, etc..) and a campaign of radiographic investigations to identify the previous restorations. After these preliminary exams, the restorers performed several small trials to assess the technique of intervention and the level of cleaning. Five of the seven vessels were cleaned by submersion of the objects in special solvents. Afterwards they were cleaned with Rochelles salts to eliminate corrosion and were subsequently rinsed and dried. The restoration was completed with a calibrated mechanical cleaning pad with baking soda. The gaps, where necessary, were integrated with pigmented epoxy resin, and the surface was consolidated and protected with nitrocellulose varnish.

The Regolini Gallassi Tomb

The Regolini Galassi Tomb was found in 1836 during archaeological excavations in Cerveteri, a small town just outside Rome. The Regolini-Galassi represents one of the richest Etruscan burial sites in the whole Eastern Mediterranean region. This tomb is the sepulcher of a king from the ancient Etruscan city of “Caere,” and holds a rich variety of gold, silver and bronze artifacts related to complex ceremonial and symbolic rituals. During this period, christened as “orientalizing,” many cultural and artistic elements of different origins coexisted in Etruria and in the entire Mediterranean region. Particularly significant is this phiale (shallow bowl) which is an antique ceremonial vase used in the Ancient Orient and Mediterranean during the Bronze Age. In fact, it was manufactured in the north part of Syria, Assyria, in Fenice and in Cyprus before reaching Italy and the Iberian Peninsula during the VII century B.C. (675-650 B.C.).

Shallow Phiale with handle

Restored thanks to the generosity of the Hawthorn School for Girls, Canadian Chapter

The restoration of the Shallow Phiale with handle started in spring 2009 and was finished in December of the same year. As is common praxis in restoration, the first step was to do the photographic documentation along with the X-rays which bring out the smaller details. In this case, they helped us see more clearly the chiselled decoration in the centre of the shallow bowl. Unfortunately, the decoration is not very well preserved; thus our restorers studied a very similar decoration on an identical phiale found in the same tomb. Scientific analysis in XRF identified the composition of the alloy used. The very first steps of the direct intervention on the object consisted in a careful cleaning of the surfaces which admirably revealed more patently the decorative chiselled patterns which beautifully adorn our phiale. The incrustations and various organic residues were removed, along with the bi-products typical of bronze corrosion. Eventually, the phiale was washed with de-mineralized water (with special attention to the amount of soluble salts) and a protective final varnish was applied to the entire surface. This piece is once again on display in the Etruscan Museum which is found just behind the niche of the Belvedere.

Two Etruscan Sarcophagi

Restored thanks to the generosity of the California Chapter

These two Etruscan Sarcophagi covers date back to the 2nd century B.C. and were found in Tuscania, a vibrant Etruscan city near Tarquinia, which gives its name to the beautiful province of Tuscany. They are made of terracotta and their dimensions are approximately 30-50 cm high x 100-200 cm long. The first sarcophagus represents a man lying with a garland in his left hand: this being is a typical portrait of the dead. The cover has a peculiarly modern look due to its apparent disproportions and stylized aspects. The second sarcophagus (inv. no. 15424-5) is composed of two parts displayed together. However, the bottom half portrays a female figure and the top a male figure. Both the head and the neck of the man are adorned with a garland of leaves as part of his funerary display. The restoration of these two pieces started in July 2009, and was successfully completed in December of the same year. First of all our restorers completed the photographic documentation and chemical analysis, in order to determine the exact composition of the terracotta material and the original colors. Afterwards, they proceeded with the overall cleaning of the surface, carefully removing numerous deposits and incrustations. Thanks to this careful cleaning it was possible to discover new original colors (reds, orange and blue) which were lying under the dust and incrustations. These colors were mainly used to decorate the vestments and dress of the dead and the chemical analysis revealed them to be expensive and precious. Material from previous restorations was also present (made of glue and malt cement) in several areas. Our restorers carefully eliminated all the previous restorations and interventions. This meticulous and specialised day-by-day work allowed the scholars and the Curator of the Etruscan Department, Dr. Maurizio Sannibale, to collect new important documentation on the technique and the making of these sarcophagi. One exceptional event occurred when carrying out the restoration. In some areas the attentive restoration revealed the actual fingerprints of the artisans dating from 2100-2200 years ago!

Bronze Bust

Restored thanks to the generosity of the California Patrons as a gift to His Eminence Cardinal Lajolo

Etruscan Vase This vase is a traditional product of Etruscan metalwork noted for its characteristic line of embossed knobs that can be seen in similar examples coming from other Etruscan sites such as Tarquinia, Cività Castellana and Marsiliana D'Albegna. It was found inside the left niche of the Regolini Galassi Tomb in Cerveteri along with a rich dowry of coins and artwork. This vase is most likely to have been a "family heirloom" to which the deceased must have been particularly attached.

Funerary Urn This funerary urn was placed on a bench inside a chamber tomb. The tomb belonged to a single family that used it for various generations. The cover represents the deceased inclined upon a kline (type of bed), clothed in a long tunic and with a rython in her right hand. The scene represented on the casket in bas-relief shows the apparition of the deceased husband to his wife, a motif that recounts the encounter between spouses in the after-life. The cover did not originally belong to this casket. The work was made in a workshop in Volterra between 75 and 50 B.C.

Funerary Urn Restored thanks to the generosity of the Hawthorn School for Girls, Canadian Chapter

Funerary Urn of a Woman This urn was made in a workshop in Volterra between 125 and 100 B.C and represents the deceased upon a bed, clothed in a long tunic belted at the waist and holding a pomegranate (symbolizing the renewal of life) in her left hand. The restoration of this urn was completed in January 2003.

Funerary Urn of a Woman Restored thanks to the generosity of a California Patron

view "Projects that are currently under Restoration"