Open publication
The Byz-tex-Athos project, is the first integrated effort to apply an ‘in situ’ combined preservation action such as documentation, identification of the component materials and preventive conservation in textiles from Mount of Athos.
This project offers the understanding and therefore the ability to prioritize preventative measurements in the vast textile collections of Mount Athos, instead of interventive conservation treatments for individual items.
Thirty-six post-Byzantine textiles which are displayed and stored to the Monastery of Simonos Petra in Mount Athos have been selected for preventive conservation. Different textile works were documented and further analyzed such as Orthodox clerical garments, decorative/liturgical fabrics and Ottoman fabrics dated from 16th to early 20th century.
A stylistic and historic survey during the documentation was carried out, placing the textiles into analogous categories according to their preservation state. Many ethical dilemmas were also considered as will be always different risks to consider when any object is going to be preserved, and be assessed, whether an ecclesiastical garment or a fabric is requested to go on loan outside of Mount Athos, or to be handled by the brotherhood and the researchers.
