Specifics of the Restoration of Church Vestments and Utensils from the Late 19th to Early 20th Centuries

Abstract

The article examines the specific aspects of the restoration of church vestments and utensils from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. It analyzes the features of materials and manufacturing technologies characteristic of this transitional period, including the combination of traditional and new industrial components (textiles, dyes, metallized threads, adhesive compositions). Typical types of damage are identified, caused by both natural aging and the specifics of the materials used, in particular, the consequences of using flour-based glue and the degradation of early synthetic dyes. Using the example of the comprehensive restoration of the Lord's Shroud from the sacristy of the Church of St. Pimen the Great in Moscow, the applied conservation and restoration methods are detailed and substantiated. This includes a differentiated approach to cleaning, strengthening, and infilling losses on a combined-media object (textile, embroidery, oil painting on canvas). General principles and recommendations for the restoration of similar objects are formulated, emphasizing the importance of thorough pre-restoration research and adherence to ethical standards. The article is intended for restorers, art historians, museum collection curators, and anyone interested in the problems of preserving church art.