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Conservation and Restoration of the Tokyo National Museum Collection, 2009

  • Image of "Covered Box, Black lacquer with arabesque in mother-of-pearl inlay, Goryeo dynasty, 14th century, Korea (Gift of Mr. Matsumoto Eichi)"

    Covered Box, Black lacquer with arabesque in mother-of-pearl inlay, Goryeo dynasty, 14th century, Korea (Gift of Mr. Matsumoto Eichi)

    Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Thematic Exhibition Room
    February 17, 2009 (Tue) - March 29, 2009 (Sun)

    Since its beginning in 2000, the role of this annual exhibition series—now in its ninth year—has been to introduce the wide variety of conservation and restoration activities that take place at the Tokyo National Museum. This year's exhibit includes 20 items of recently restored works with accompanying pictures, chosen either as representative examples of various fields such as painting, sculpture, the decorative arts, archaeology and historical objects, or for the uniquely specialized techniques which have been utilized in their restoration.

    The Tokyo National Museum's mission is to provide the public with opportunities for viewing cultural properties while also preserving its collection so that it can be enjoyed in perpetuity. In order to fulfill this mission, maintenance of exhibition and storage areas, improvement of transportation methods and treatment of the objects, and both minor and full-scale repairs are required to preserve or restore the items. In addition, solving problems posed by materials or technology plays an extremely important role. There is an inherent contradiction between storing the items for preservation and making them available for the public to enjoy. However, in order to have these items passed on to future generations, we feel it is necessary and take both of these into account in our daily activities.

    Through this exhibition, we hope to deepen your understanding of the preservation techniques necessary for these important cultural objects.

 Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
 Poem, Attributed to Fujiwara no Kinto, Heian period, 12th century (Gift of Mr. Matsunaga Yasuzaemon)
Seated Bosatsu (Bodhisattva), Heian period, 9th century
Spearhead with cross blade, Muromachi period, 16th century
Covered Box, Black lacquer with arabesque in mother-of-pearl inlay, Goryeo dynasty, 14th century, Korea (Gift of Mr. Matsumoto Eichi)
Chair, Haniwa (teracotta tomb figurine), Kofun period, 5th century
 Gallery Talks (In Japanese)

"Activities of the Museum's Preventive Conservation Section"
Room 17, Honkan
February 10, 2009, 14:00
Speaker: Wada Hiroshi, Assistant Curator of Environment Section
"The Work of a Preventive Conservation Scientist"
Thematic Exhibition Room, Heiseikan
February 17, 2009, 14:00
Speaker: Kamba Nobuyuki, Supervisor of Conservation Department
"Conservation Work on Plum Tree and Birds Screen"
Thematic Exhibition Room, Heiseikan
March 3, 2009, 14:00
Speaker: Tsuchiya Yuko, Conservator
"Preventive Conservation and Repair of Cultural Property"
Room 20, Honkan
March 17, 2009, 14:00
Speaker: Araki Tominori, Conservator
Exhibitions