Conservation

History

The Estonian National Museum was founded in 1909. Over time, the museum also became engaged in efforts to preserve the items in its collections: cleaning, disinfecting and restoring.

The conservation and restoration centre was founded on 30 September 1965 as a unit within the collections department. It was originally called the restoration laboratory, and employed metal, textile and wood restorers and artists.

In 1991, a special sub-unit was formed to deal with maintenance of the collections; in documents of that era, it was called the “hygiene sector”. It was tasked with performing preventive care, pest control and ensuring the proper environmental conditions.

Over the years, the conservators and collection maintenance staff have constantly grown, and the training and work conditions have also improved.

Since the year 2000, the conservators and collection maintenance and preservation specialists are administratively under one department – the Conservation Department.

The Conservation Department

The Estonian National Museum’s continuously growing collections consist of over a million items.

The main objective of the Conservation Department is to ensure that museum artefacts and archives are well preserved and can be used by future generations.

The department is engaged in preservation and, if necessary, conservation of items. It also monitors the environmental conditions in the storage area and exhibition halls as well as the condition of the items in the museum collections. The department also prepares items for exhibitions and ensures that their transport and display would meet the requirements.

The Collections Maintenance Unit

The main focus of preservation activity is to prevent damage to collections. The aim is to improve preservation conditions and reducing the risk of damage in storage area, in the exhibition halls and during research activity. Regular checks are conducted to assess potential influence of biological risk agents, damage is processed and the depositories are cleaned. Environmental conditions are also tracked closely and packaging is prepared from suitable materials for long-term preservation.

Conservation work

Conservation team members have specializations according to the primary materials used in the museum’s collection items. They are: textile, wood, metal, paper, leather and plastic. In addition, some conservators also specialize in polychrome wood and various photographic materials. Both invasive and non-invasive approaches are used, stemming from the museum item’s material, the type of damage and conservation objectives. Regardless of the methods used, the aim is to slow the degradation process, preserve as much of the information that accompanies the collection items, and find additional facts and support evidence for the history or legend behind the artefact.

Research investigations

The conservation laboratory is also equipped to conduct primary research and experiment with new conservation methods. To carry out thorough research and develop study and conservation methodologies, the department works closely with memory institutions and research institutes both in Estonia and abroad.

Results

In order to share knowledge and experience, we also provide consultations and organise trainings and information events for other museums and professionals in the field.  Our conservators also present research at Estonian and international seminars and conferences.

To introduce the speciality on a broader level, we play an active role in developing educational programmes and we periodically carry out consultations and workshops in the field of conservation and restoration.

To find out more about our conservation work and research topics, visit the Estonian National Museum weblog at blog.erm.ee.

Internships

With the aim of training skilled conservators for the future, we get university students involved in museum work early on, both through research topics and hands-on work. The National Museum’s conservation department is a good place for professional training as part of a practicum internship.

Contact:

Muuseumi tee 2
60532, TARTU
www.erm.ee

Director of the Conservation Department
Kristiina Piirisild
Tel 736 3034
kristiina.piirisild@erm.ee

Director of the Collections Maintenance Unit
Eve Kasearu
Tel 736 3009
eve.kasearu@erm.ee