Restorers restore or safeguard and preserve the original condition of art and cultural goods. First of all, they carry out investigations to determine the state of preservation of the objects. Based on the results, they develop the restoration concept. Then they restore and conserve the respective object using specialist techniques and document the measures. In addition, restorers advise clients and act as experts in their respective area of work.
In scientific research, restorers develop new processing methods or research historical work techniques and publish their research results. At universities, they teach students, prepare lectures and seminars, correct written papers and take exams. Independent scientific activities usually open up. only after completing a master’s degree and a doctorate.
Restorers find employment e.g.
The salary level for Restorer (m/f) in Germany is: from 3782 up to 5798 EUR per month
Restorers preserve, maintain and restore art and cultural assets. They examine the objects and carry out the conservation and restoration work.
Art and cultural goods are subject to aging and decay - restorers counteract these processes. Most of them are specialists in a certain area and deal e.g. with the restoration of paintings, sculptures, wall paintings, antique furniture, films or archival material.
At the beginning of their work are the inventory and the decision whether the property will be restored on the spot. Restorers then examine the substance of the object on site or in the workshop, e.g. of a painting. They take into account natural aging processes and examine the changes. For example, samples are taken from the paint layer and image carrier and then examined with the so-called emission spectral analysis or color pigments are examined under the scanning electron microscope. The results of the investigations record restorers in a damage catalog. Based on this, they calculate how much time it will take to restore the painting and how much it will cost.
In the restoration work, they deal with different materials depending on the property. When restoring a painting, for example, restorers expose old versions. For example, if Patience and dexterity are required when using a heated spatula to soften individual layers of paint. Scalpel or small brushes are used as well as paints, binders and solvents. They also remove existing damage in the carrier material - such as the canvas. Finally, they preserve the primer as well as the original paint layer and retouch existing defects. They document all processing steps and, if necessary, work out recommendations, e.g. for setting up and maintaining the property.
Restorers can work as freelancers or be employed by public and private institutions, e.g. at museums or in the preservation of historical monuments. A master’s degree is often required for management positions.
As a rule, for independent scientific activities a master's degree and a doctorate are required.
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