Susanne joined the Getty Museum in 2016. A native of Germany, she obtained a certificate in archaeological conservation from the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Mainz, Germany in 1987. Among other positions, she served as objects conservator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (19902016). She worked on excavations in Egypt and Sudan, taught in the Luxor East Bank Groundwater Lowering Project at the American Research Center in Egypt field school (20082010), and explored preservation of metalwork in Nepal (supported by an individual grant from the Asian Cultural Council, NY, 2015). Her research interests include ancient Mediterranean and Nile Valley material culture, site preservation, relocation of monumental sculptures, and the study of ancient and historic metalwork. She is co-author, with Yvonne Markowitz, of Looking at Jewelry (Getty Publications, 2019).
Conservators at the Getty Villa Museum are responsible for the preservation, treatment, and technical research of all material types in the antiquities collection. The department’s work also involves preventive care of its collection, encompassing climate control, environmental monitoring and mount making, and oversight of exhibition installations and outgoing loans. Getty conservators conduct in-depth technological studies and material research of objects—from within the collection and on special loan—to gain insight into their specific history, including methods of manufacture, use, deterioration and/or alterations and to determine how these affect their treatment, preservation, and display. The department plays a leading international role in the development, manufacture, and evaluation of approaches and fixtures for the protection of delicate and monumental objects on display in the event of earthquakes, known as seismic damage mitigation. Committed to conservation training, the department hosts interns through the Getty internship program, and supports the UCLA/Getty Interdepartmental Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage.
The department regularly collaborates with national and international institutions and pursues global partnerships, most recently with Jordan. These collaborations aim at improving the understanding and state of preservation of an object or a group of objects, often contributing to exhibitions, and assist in local conservation training. Information gained through the department’s various activities is regularly shared through lectures, seminars, symposia, and publications.
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PUBLICATIONS

Looking at Jewelry: A Guide to Terms, Styles, and Techniques
Containing more than eighty color illustrations, this guide will be invaluable to all those wishing to increase their understanding and enjoyment of the art of jewelry.
VIDEOS
In the summer of 2007, four bronze lamps were discovered in a rock-cut pit near the walls of ancient Vani. In collaboration with the Georgian National Museum, two of these lamps were conserved at the Getty Villa.
Watch more Antiquities Conservation videosNEWS & STORIES

Ancient Sculptures of Mourning Women
In 2019, bringing these figures out of storage gave Getty curators and conservators an exciting opportunity to study how they were made and to learn more about South Italian funerary art and practices.
RESOURCES
Bibliography
Publications by Antiquities Conservation Staff
Download Bibliography (PDF, 384 KB)
CAMEO Materials Database
The materials database from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's Conservation and Art Materials Encyclopedia Online contains chemical, physical, visual, and analytical information on over 10,000 historic and contemporary materials.
American Institute for Conservation
The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is the national membership association for conservators and allied professionals who preserve art and cultural heritage. Together with the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, they promote the preservation and protection of cultural heritage and serve as a resource on conservation for the general public.
CAST:ING
The CAST:ING project is a framework to advance the understanding of bronze sculpture through contributions from an international team composed of 52 conservators, scientists, curators, art historians, historians, archaeologists, metallurgists, and craftspeople.
2022 MOUNTMAKING FORUM

The International Mountmakers Forum supports the mountmaking community and is committed to fostering communication, promoting best practices, and disseminating current information regarding materials tools, techniques, and solutions for object storage and display. Check the IMF website for the latest updates on conferences and workshops.