Minbar: Before Conservation
- Description:
- Minbar: Before Conservation
- Physical Description:
- 46 Photographs and Color Slides and B&W Film Rolls
- Author:
- Dobrowolska, Agnieszka, Vincent, Robert, and Godeau, Patrick
- Date Created:
- 1995 - 1998
- Collection:
- Al-Salih Tala'i Minbar Conservation Project
- Location:
- Historic Cairo
- Time Period:
- Mamluk Dynasty
- Cultural Object:
- Carving (Decorative arts), Wood, Domes, Malqaf, Mosques, Inscriptions, Inlaid, Minbar, Carving (Decorative arts), Wood, Domes, Malqaf, Mosques, Inscriptions, Inlaid, Minbar, Carving (Decorative arts), Wood, Domes, Malqaf, Mosques, Inscriptions, Inlaid, and Minbar
- Fieldwork activities:
- condition survey, condition survey, and condition survey
- Genre:
- black-and-white photographs and color photographs
- Creative Commons License:
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
- Rights Statement:
- Users must agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the CC BY NC SA license before using ARCE materials and must provide the following credit line: "Reproduction courtesy of the American Research Center in Egypt, Inc. (ARCE). This project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)."
- Project History:
- In 1997, a survey of existing conditions was carried out by Dr. Ewa Parandowska on the Minbar of Al-Salih Tala’i mosque to ascertain primary sources of degradation and to illustrate and define the current state of preservation of the Minbar. The survey's findings indicated that the Minbar of Al-Salih Tala’i mosque is experiencing significant degradation and deterioration. Accordingly, Dr. Agnieszka Dobrowolska and her team of conservation professionals, led by Conservator Erico Peintner, conducted specialized conservation on the Minbar of Al-Salih Tala’i from August 1998 to January 1999, under the auspices of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE). Reinforcement for the interior structure of the Minbar was installed, a new base was built, cleaning and infilling of the decorations were carried out, the dome was restored and installed, the malqaf was retained and maintained and the Qibla wall was conserved and restored. Conservation work on the Minbar of Al-Salih Tala’i was made possible with the support of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (formerly the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities).
- Funding Agency:
- The conservation of the minbar of Al-Salih Tala'i was made possible with funding by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Grant No. 263-G-00-93-00089-00 and administered by Egyptian Antiquities Conservation Project (EAC) of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), the condition survey by Ewa Parandowska was funded by Grant Np. 263-0000-G-00-3089-00 and administered by the Egyptian Antiquities Project (EAP).
- Abstract:
- Conservation recommendations were provided, emphasizing two main treatment levels: structure stabilization and surface cleaning. The surveying project proposed the reinstallation of the Minbar on a new support, the preservation of existing reconstructions, and the removal of current paint coats to restore its original appearance. The investigation also addressed the preservation of the Malqaf, an ornamental windcatcher linked to the Minbar. It underscored the importance of employing reversible materials and conventional restoration methods, advocating for a collaborative effort among experts to guarantee the Minbar's survival and preservation. and The Minbar of Al-Salah Tala'i Mosque in Cairo has undergone several renovations, notably a major reconstruction in 1898/99 and repairs in the 1980s. A survey of existing conditions was carried out to ascertain primary causes of damage and delineate the investigation procedures employed to examine and analyze the original materials and building techniques. It highlighted the absence of evidence concerning previous restorations, hindering the comprehension of its historical integrity.