Conservation and Restoration of Enamels on Metal

The EMCN is a subgroup of ICOM-CC (International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation) established in 2005. It brings together members of two specialized ICOM-CC working groups: Ceramics and Glass on the one hand, and Metal on the other. Currently comprising nearly fifty members representing sixteen different countries, this network brings together conservators-restorers, scientists, art historians, and curators. The goal of this group is to facilitate the exchange of information between specialists in glass conservation and specialists in metal conservation regarding the topic of metal enamels. Metal enamels are, in fact, composite objects in which metal and glass are intimately bonded, making their conservation a delicate process. The experts who treat or study them generally specialize in only one of the two materials and need to find additional information. The EMCN communicates regularly through an online discussion list and publishes a newsletter once a year. The group also meets every two years for one or two study days to present the latest research and findings in the field of metal enamel conservation. These meetings help maintain a strong connection among the group’s members, who are scattered across the globe. In 2008, the Villa Medici will host this group of professionals for an intensive exchange of information and experiences. These two-day study sessions, open to the public, will offer an opportunity to discover metal enamels—fascinating objects from the world of decorative arts.

Agnès Gall Ortlik

Heritage conservator and art historian specializing in the conservation of fired arts (glass, ceramics, and enamel on metal), she graduated from the Institut National du Patrimoine, IFROA department, in 2000 (Paris, France). She divides her time between Paris and Barcelona (Spain) and works as an independent professional for French and Spanish institutions, as well as for private clients. She has completed advanced training programs in the United States, notably at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA), the Corning Museum of Glass (Corning, NY), and the Brooklyn Museum of Art (New York, NY). With a particular interest in the conservation and restoration of metal enamels, she has published several research articles and given lectures on this subject. She supplemented her training in enamel conservation with a BTS in artistic metal enameling at the Escola Superior de Disseny i d’Art Llotja in Barcelona. A member of the ICOM-CC Ceramics, Glass, and Related Materials Group, she is also the deputy coordinator of the Enamel Group within the same organization. Organized by Agnès Gall Ortlik Agnès Gall Ortlik: Restorer-in-Residence at the Villa Medici