Partners

• ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)
• National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, Japan

Duration: 11 - 30 September 2006

Place: Tokyo, Japan

Participants
Eleven professionals representing eleven countries: Argentina, Australia, Denmark, France, Greece, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, USA.

Lecturers
This course combined theory and practice, through lectures, practical workshops, a study tour to visit traditional paper-making masters, and mounting studios. Sessions were conducted by a team of eight Japanese art historians, conservation scientists, traditional paper-mounting and conservation specialists.

Aim
The course offered those caring for paper-based collections an insight into the materials and techniques of the Japanese paper-mounting tradition, and to the principles guiding the care of such collections in Japan. Through improving their understanding of the basic characteristics of the Japanese paper tradition, the participants improved their decisions concerning the care of Japanese artifacts in their collections. The course offered opportunities to build bridges between the Japanese and the Western paper conservation traditions and to assess the applicability of the Japanese approach, materials and techniques to non-Japanese cultural heritage.

Course activities
The course activities focused on practical, hands-on sessions. Cultural, historical and scientific context was provided through illustrated lectures and visits to collections, museums, and workshops in Tokyo, Kyoto and Mino.

Main achievements

• Reinforcing professional community working with Asian heritage and collections, providing first hand experience of specialized Japanese methods and materials;
• creating links between professionals and institutions working in the field of paper conservation.

updated on: 23 November, 2007