Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences

Institut für Restaurierungs- und Konservierungswissenschaft

Contact

Andreas Krupa

Andreas Krupa

Institut für Restaurierungs- und Konservierungswissenschaft (CICS)

  • Phone: +49 221-8275-3054

International Conservation Workshop Lopud (ICWL) - Investigation of Choirstalls on Lopud Island

Dieses letzte Bild zeigt die vorerst letzte Exkursionsgruppe aus dem Jahr 2019. Die Teilnehmer*innen kommen von der Universität Antwerpen, der Universität Dubrovnik der École Supèrieure La Cambre Brüssel und der Technischen Hochschule Köln. Die Gruppe arbeitete in diesem Jahr an Möbeln und einer Haube eines Taufbeckens der Pfarrkirche Gospa od Sunja (Heilige Maria von der Schlangenbucht). Die Arbeit an den Chorgestühlen stand 2019 dagegen still. Wir hoffen bald wieder auf die Insel zurückkehren zu dürfen! (Image: TH Koeln - CICS - Andreas Krupa)

In the framework of the ICWL Cologne students and teachers together with their fellow students and teachers from the Universities of Antwerp and Dubrovnik are investigating the choirstalls of the Franciscan church on the Island of Lopud, near Dubrovnik Croatia. The investigations will lead to the conservation-restoration of the vulnerable chairs.

At a glance

Kategorie Beschreibung
Student project International Conservation Workshop Lopud (ICWL) - Investigation of Choirstalls of the church Gospa od Spilica Lopud Croatia
Teachers Prof. Charles Indekeu (University of Antwerp), Josko Bogdanovic (University of Dubrovnik), Bozena Popic-Kurtela (Croatian Ministry of Culture - Institute of Restoration of Dubrovnik), Dr. Ursula Weber-Woelk, Andreas Krupa Dipl.-Rest. (FH) M.A.
CICS department Wooden artefacts and plastics (HOM)
Involved students Ella Claes, Arne Verdonck (University of Antwerp), Katarina Prkacin, Sara Stevanovic, Zlata Prijic (University of Dubrovnik), Julian Schmid, Connor Haupt, Dominic Huber, Clara Sutorius, Jan-Niklas Kurka
Project partners University of Antwerp | UA, Department Conservation-Restoration
University of Dubrovnik (UNIDU), Department Conservation-Restoration
Croatian Ministry of Culture, Institute of Restoration of Dubrovnik
Running time 2018 until today
Financial support Društvo za zaštitu spomeničke baštine i prirode Lopuda (Association for the Protection of the Monuments of Lopud)

During a meeting in the course of the 2016-mission of the International Conservation Workshop Lopud (ICWL) the participating Universities were asked by the Institute for Restoration of Dubrovnik of the Croatian Ministry of Culture for support concerning the conservation-restoration of the choirstalls of the church Gospa od Spilica on the Island of Lopud. Subsequently in 2017 and 2018 the ICWL-groups started with the investigation.

The choirstalls

The choirstalls consist of four wings positioned at the northern and southern wall of the nave. A seven-seated and a three-seated wing are facing backwards to the southern wall near the frontal entrance door. An eight-seater and another three-seated element stand opposite to the aforementioned wings close to the northern wall. Although it seems that the stalls are composed of wooden elements which were manufactured in different periods, today they form a unity and represent precious decorated church furniture of ancient times, when Spilica-church was the liturgical centre of the Franciscan monastery.
Above all sumptuous ornamental-carved side panels and posts made of walnut-wood characterize the seats. Regarding the splendour of the carvings and because of the large dimensions of the structures visitors of the church will not miss the stalls – they are defining focal points of the richly furnished space.

History

Investigation revealed that the choirstalls in the today's shape seem to origin from a (re-)arrangement of ancient and contemporary parts centuries ago. In the 20th century modern kneelers were added, which are constructed rather simple from coniferous boards. It can be assumed that the choirstalls in earlier times included front elements consisting of a kneeler and a shelf for the prayer books. However these elements are lost and unknown.
Furtheron there is evidence, that the preserved four wings of the choirstalls have been clipped at the outer sides and rearranged in the church. Clipping is indicated by the saw-cut ends of the elbow-rests and the cut strips, each of which initially was installed for carrying one of the folding-seats.

Condition

Actually neither the investigation of the making of the stalls nor the condition survey is finished. However it can be stated that the state of preservation of the choirstalls is delicate. The main problems are insect damaged wood, losses, repair, replacement and loose joins. Certain dynamic decay-processes are readable: Insect damaged wood leads to severe loss of stability and this leads to cracks, to fragmentation of boards and loose joins, and this process finally leads to loss of wooden parts like e.g. profiled mouldings. It should be noted, that the stalls are in use during the masses and when tourists visit the church. The church is located next to the island’s harbour, near the seashore and the tourist's boats and ferries. On summer days up to more than 100 tourists may visit the church and sit in the stalls. In order to prevent accidents or even more severe damages in recent times some floorboards were exchanged and new floorboards and the substructure beams were introduced in a manner of repair. Thus the wooden elements of the choirstalls slowly degrade and get lost.
The state of condition of the historic surface treatment of the elements relates to the structural vulnerability and constantly suffers from the ongoing utilization of the stalls.

First considerations concerning the conservation concept

There is an imperative need for curing and remedial conservation-restoration to stop the ongoing „erosion“ of the choirstalls and to aim for sufficient stability and protection of the old parts with regard to the today‘s non-regulated utilization. Further a concept of preventive care should be introduced in which amongst others the option of a restricted use of the stalls should be considered. These considerations are important points of an integrated conservation strategy, which still has to be developed and synchronised with the local authorities.
Remedial c-r for the moment mainly consists of cleaning, consolidation and conditioned repair. The idea is first to stabilize and safeguard the preserved elements of the structures in the spirit of only moderate intervention. Presumably the repair of the elements already leads to a better stability of the structures, they are part of. However it can already be supposed that further actions will be necessary, e.g. the introduction of auxiliary structures.
Actually the project of the conservation of the choirstalls pauses, however we will be happy to come back to the island and to proceed with investigation and treatment.

Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences

Institut für Restaurierungs- und Konservierungswissenschaft

Contact

Andreas Krupa

Andreas Krupa

Institut für Restaurierungs- und Konservierungswissenschaft (CICS)

  • Phone: +49 221-8275-3054


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