Symposium on the Conservation of Cultural Property in Asia and the Pacific

On September 7-13, 1991, a major symposium on cultural property conservation in Asian and Pacific countries was held in Honolulu, Hawaii. The purpose of the event, organized by the GCI, USIA and US/ICOMOS, was to provide a forum for dialogue among specialists and policy-makers on conservation issues of the Asian Pacific Rim.

Fifty individuals from various nations of the Pacific Rim participated in the symposium. Among the issues addressed in the presentations and discussions were factors that threaten cultural property (including the impact of policy on cultural properties protection) and practical means of providing for the protection of cultural resources. In addition to speeches, general discussions, and workshops, the symposium included visits to selected sites.

Because of the considerable interest in the material and ideas offered at the symposium, a publication including the presentations, commissioned papers, and summaries of the participants' discussions is now being prepared. Publication is anticipated later in the year.

Ancient and Historic Metals: Conservation and Scientific Research

An international conference on ancient and historic metals was held at the J. Paul Getty Museum on November 21-23, 1991, jointly sponsored by the Museum and the GCI. The conference specifically addressed conservation treatment, technology, and examination of metallic objects, rather than concentrating on archaeometallurgy or the extraction of metals, which have been the subjects of conferences held elsewhere.

Approximately 180 participants heard a wide variety of papers delivered by prominent conservators and conservation scientists from Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, England, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States. Among the subjects addressed during the conference were: the conservation of the equestrian bronze of Marcus Aurelius, presented by Dr. Maurizio Marabelli of the Istituto Centrale del Restauro, Rome; the conservation of outdoor zinc sculptures, presented by Carol Grissom of the Smithsonian Institution; an account of architectural metalwork and the conservation of the Rookeries ornamental ironwork, presented by Frank Matero of the University of Pennsylvania; the conservation of metals from underwater sites, presented by Ian MacLeod of the Western Australian Maritime Museum; the technology of Chinese bronze casting and the patination of Chinese bronzes, presented by Thomas Chase of the Freer Gallery of Art; and the technology of gilding in the 18th century, presented by Martin Chapman of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The proceedings of this comprehensive conference will be published by the GCI.

In his opening remarks to the gathering, Harold Williams, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, welcomed the participants and spoke about the importance of such prorams for the advancement of conservation.