Research

The Institute of Conservation (IBR) maintains high standards in conservation ethics. In an effort to make the conservation process minimally invasive, sustainable and reversible whenever possible, new techniques continue to be developed, always on the basis of the latest findings from the fields of material and conservation science. As a result, the IBR constantly develops, tests and, upon positive evaluation, also applies new conservation methods. Mechanical and chemical analyses as well as artificial ageing form part of the standard methods of evaluation.

Art technological and art historical questions are also becoming increasingly important. This challenge is met by the IBR by using modern means of analysis that do not require to touch the object or to take samples. Specifically, we employ UV/Vis, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence and polarisation microscopy to identify colorants, minerals, metals and plastics.