Conservation decisions in context: East meets West, the Japanese conservation tradition

The diversity of approaches to conservation within different cultural contexts and traditions offers both challenges for reconciling conflicting conceptual frameworks, as well as for making choices between different technical options. The long-standing collaboration between ICCROM and the National Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, Japan, has provided opportunities for professionals from western conservation tradition to be immersed in the Japanese tradition, and discover the character and the potential of the highest level of craftsmanship and research undertaken by colleagues in Japan. The participation of conservators as well as art historians, curators and natural scientists in these activities ensures that the dialogue is embedded in the development of the profession in a variety of disciplines and professional contexts.

Continue to provide access to non-western conservation approaches and practices through the courses offered by the National Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, on Japanese paper and Urushi lacquer.

JPC 2010 Japanese paper conservation - international course
The purpose of this course is to offer those caring for paper-based collections outside of Japan 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 will be in a better position to make decisions concerning the care of Japanese artefacts in their collections. The course aims also at offering 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 also to non-Japanese cultural heritage.

URUSHI 2011 conservation of Japanese lacquer - international course
The purpose of this course is to offer those caring for urushi and lacquer collections outside of Japan an insight into the materials, composition and techniques of the urushi lacquer, and to the principles guiding the care and handling of such collections in Japan. The programme will cover aspects relevant to the preservation of urushi objects, including the manufacturing process of both the raw materials and the different types of objects, as well as the history and scientific examination of urushi tradition. The course will also introduce the Japanese approach to conservation of urushi objects as well as their handling, storage and packing. The course will also offer an opportunity to discuss the similarities and differences between the different lacquer traditions of Asia, as well as the use of lacquer in the Western conservation tradition.

updated on: 29 December, 2009