| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies


EJARS (Established 2011)

Volume 2 ,issue 1 | Winter and Spring 2012 | Pages : 11-28

RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE WOODEN CEILING OF AL-ASHRAF QAYTBAY MADRESSA, CAIRO – EGYPT

Document Type: Original Article

DOI: 10.21608/EJARS.2012.7456

pages: 11-28

Authors:
Abd El-Tawab, N. 1 , Mahran, A. 2 & Badr, I. 2

1 Ass Prof. Conservation dept., Faculty of Archaeology, South Valley Univ., Qena, Egypt
2 Lecture in Institute of tourism, Hotel management and Restoration, Alexandria.

Abstract:
The painted ceilings of Qaitbay's madrassa is one of the Egypt's great monuments and among the oldest in the Islamic civilization, dating back to the Garkssy Mamluk period (879 AH/1474 AD). It represents an exceptional example of the quality and extent of medieval woodworking in Egypt. The wooden ceiling of Qaitbay's madrassa had been affected by an extensive deterioration due to many factors, such as loss of colors, cracking, soot deposition, and losses of materials/units, insects' holes, and fungi growth, in addition to formation of corrosion products of its metallic parts. The main aim of the present paper is the characterization and investigation of the different components employed in the decorated ceiling of Madrassa of Qaytbay as wood units, painting ground, pigments, gilding, binding media and products of deterioration. Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with EDX analysis, Optical Light Microscope, X-ray diffraction and Infrared analysis were applied for investigation. Biological study was done. We present the results of identifying the wood species and insects of the ceiling of the Qaitbay's madrassa, which the aim of the providing information not only of the benefit to restoration but also to the historical- artistic background of the artifacts. Also this paper includes the present of its state of conservation for preservation the study will include the documentation, investigation, and analysis before the intervention process. The treatment steps were documented before, during and after the restoration. Preservation of the wood ceiling was carried out including the following: cleaning (mechanical and chemical cleaning), treatment of fungi infection, consolidation and restoration.

Keywords:
Wooden ceiling; Pigment; Ground layer; Gilding; Deterioration; Restoration

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