Conservation Department
The Conservation Department at The National Museum in Gdansk is dedicated to the preservation, conservation, study and documentation of the museum’s collections. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the legacy of our heritage, ensuring that it remains accessible and comprehensible for both current and future audiences.
The success of our work relies on an in-depth knowledge of materials and excellent practical skills, combined with rigorous research and analysis.
We collaborate with partners to increase our understanding of deterioration processes as well as identification of material and manufacturing methods. Working in collaboration with heritage scientists, conservators, and art historians supports our knowledge which is ultimately shared with the public.
Our team includes specialisations according to materials, including paper and photographs, paintings and polychromed wooden sculptures, ceramic and stone, metals and composite objects.
Our department strives to pursue sustainable practices in everyday work, being conscious of applying methodologies which are safe for the object, the conservator and the environment.
Our Mission
Our primary goal is to maintain our collections in stable conditions and in safe environments for future generations. We are committed to managing, preserving, and providing access to our collections. We investigate materials and techniques to fully understand the condition of our collections. Thanks to this knowledge we are able to provide preventive measures dedicated to the specifics of the collection.
What We Do
- Prevention: We implement procedures to protect our collections from deterioration, by establishing and maintaining best practices for the storage, handling, and display of our collections
- Investigation: Our team conducts thorough research to understand the historical and material context of each object, collaborating with external partners
- Conservation: Through careful restoration processes, we enhance and maintain the integrity of the collection, ensuring the original intentions are preserved.
- Exhibitions: We ensure that our collections are presented to the public in a manner that highlights their cultural and historical significance. We also provide specialist conservation services to facilitate and support our programs, including loans and national and international courier services.
- Collaboration: we maintain active collaborations with cultural, scientific and conservation institutions in order to enrichen and share knowledge.
- Ethical approach: Professional conservation ethics are an integral part of our methodologies.