About the Workshop
The department for restoring icons and ancient Russian paintings was the first to appear at the Grabar Art Conservation Centre back in 1918.
The workshop carries out restoration works on ancient (from the 12th century, for example) and more recent (20th century) icons. These include large (cathedral) icons, so-calledpyadnitsa icons (icons the size of a pyad, an old Russian measure of length that was equal to the length between a person's outstretched thumb and forefinger) with miniature writing, and icons painted using egg tempera, which often contains gold leaves. Non-traditional work includes restoring church images that were originally created using a mixed technique (tempera and oil). Among the tasks of the restorers are the elimination of various kinds of damage to the wooden base or the layers of paint with gesso. In addition to icons, the workshop also carried out restoration work on artefacts that were created using ancient Russian painting techniques and technologies: painted wooden church plates, an armarium, and a birch bridal crown with a painting on it. Other cathedral items can be added to this list: Royal Doors (with frescoes and carvings) and sculptures. Restoration works are also performed on icon settings (basma, engraved and stamped).
At present, the workshop includes a section for restoring polychrome wooden sculptures. It also carries out appraisals of ancient Russian works of art.