MICROINKS
LIMITED
INTACH
ITALIAN CULTURE INSTITUTE
EMBASSY OF ITALY
NEW DELHI
Indo-Italian Workshop on Stone Conservation
INTACH Art Conservation Centre, New Delhi
12th to 14th October, 2011
INTACH ICCI in collaboration with the Italian Embassy, Delhi and the Italian Cultural
Centre is organizing a three-day workshop on conservation of stone from the 12th to 14th
October, 2011, at INTACH Art Conservation Centre, New Delhi.
Brief about the workshop
India has a vast wealth of heritage in stone, both as objects and buildings. This heritage
represent an important element in the understanding of the Indian culture for the artistic
and historical message it conveys from the past. Weathering processes, pollution and
human activity cause irreversible changes to this heritage. These problems are more
complex in India given the diverse nature of stones used and also the diverse environmental
conditions to which they are exposed. Preventive conservation, the knowledge of behaviour
of stones and the stone conservation practice itself has increased over the years. Italy
experienced in the last decades a great number of experiences and a rich repertoire of case
studies is available today. In order to preserve the priceless heritage in stone in India, it is
time to build support for a long-term transfer of this knowledge. The challenge for the
future in stone conservation in India is a sustained effort towards fulfilling gaps in
understanding as well as keeping abreast with evolving new technology. This workshop is
one such attempt and is aimed to bring together the Italian and Indian know-how in the area
of conservation of stone, starting from principles and methodologies till the most recent
technologies for conservation.
The workshop shall be covering the following aspects:
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Significance and historical message
Analysis of ancient technology and documentation
Description of different types and properties of stone used in decorative arts and
buildings
Scientific analysis techniques (materials characterization, evaluation of the state of
the preservation of the artifacts)
Ethics of stone conservation and the factors that govern decisions on reconstruction
and reintegration
Stone conservation methods
Planning and budgeting
Preventive conservation and maintenance
Communication and dissemination
Experts:
Mr. Roberto Nardi: Founder, Italian Centre for Archaeological Conservation (CCA),
Rome, Italy.
Roberto Nardi received his degrees in archaeology from the University of Rome, and in
conservation of archaeological materials from the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, Rome.
In 1982 he founded the Centro di Conservazione Archeologica (CCA), a private company
carrying out public commissions in the field of conservation of ancient monuments and
archaeological sites. CCA is based in a convent located north of Rome where training
course are implemented. He has directed over 50 projects and courses in 14 countries,
including the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Temple of Vespasian in the Roman
Forum, the roman town of Zeugma, Turkey, the mural paintings of the Madrasa Amiriya in
Yemen, and the mosaic of Saint Catherine in Sinai. He has developed projects for the Getty
Conservation Institute and for the Packard Humanities Institute, with special reference to
mosaics conservation. He has published 80 technical articles and served as an Associate
Professor at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of
Cultural Heritage (ICCROM). He is a Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation
(IIC), and vice president of the International Committee for the Conservation of Mosaics
(ICCM). Dr. Nardi is a Kress Lecturer at the American Institute of Archaeology for
2010/2011.
Mrs. Andreina Costanzi Cobau: Expert, Stone conservation and Conservation of Mural
Paintings.
In 1984 she certified in restoration of paintings (canvas and mural) from Istituto Centrale
del Restauro, Roma, being Laura and Paolo Mora her teachers. With them, she worked at
the Giotto frescoes in Assisi (1983) and at the Mantegna’s “Cappella degli Sposi” in
Mantova (1983). In the same institute in 1985 she specialized in conservation of stone
monuments. In 1983 she jointed CCA, Centro di Conservazione Archeologica. In 1990 she
became Partner with responsibility on mural paintings conservation. Since the time of her
thesis at the ICR she was involved in re-discovering the uses of lime in ancient times and in
reusing it nowadays in applied conservation projects. In 1984 she experimented for Torraca
the hydraulic mortar grouting at the Crypta Balbi in Rome. In 1987 she directed the
conservation of Basilica Sotterranea di Porta Maggiore and Casa Bellezza (I sec. d.C.) for
the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma. In 2004 she received the Keck Award (IIC
International Institute of Conservation of London) for the best program of communication
in conservation with “Aperto per Restauro” the conservation of the Centaurus at the
Capitoline Museum in Rome. She took part to all the conservation project of CCA and
gave lectures and courses in 8 countries.
Participants
The participation is open to professionals, experts and students in the field of archaeology
and conservation. It will be an excellent opportunity to interact and exchange knowledge
with the Italian specialists on techniques and methodologies involving stone conservation.
Registration
Please fill in the attached registration form and email it to Ms. Padma Rohilla latest by 3rd
October 2011 to confirm participation. We could facilitate the boarding arrangements for
all outstation participants. Working lunch and tea will be provided.
Contact details:
Ms. Padma Rohilla, Coordinator, INTACH Art Conservation Centre, Delhi
Mob: 9971609818
Tel: 011-24632267 (ext. 106, 334)
Email: acc.delhi@gmail.com