A study and evaluation of historical interventions on armour at the palace armoury, Valletta with ethical and technical considerations : with special reference to the "reserve-collection"

Abstract

This study catalogues the past interventions on 16th and 17th century armour found in the reserve collection at the Palace Armoury in Valletta. Such interventions include repairs and restorations that were carried out in order to prolong the use of the armour, or for the armour to go on display within the Palace Armoury as a museum. Historic interventions carried out during the time of use of the armour, and the more recent ones carried out between the 18th and 19th centuries, differ again from those carried out in different periods throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Through this study the techniques of the interventions on armour are identified and their effect evaluated ethically and technically and put into perspective. This dissertation commences, giving a general overview of the history of the Palace Armoury collection and the interventions that were undertaken in the past. This is augmented with information about the armourers and restorers who have worked at the Palace Armoury, their work, workshops along with their methods and tools. The work delves into the type of armour being studied in relation to the interventions. Following this is the literature review and methodology by which all data in the study were collected. This is followed by the data revealed in the interviews along with the observations. This includes a discussion in relation to the periods during which the interventions took place and merged with the ethical issues on historic and current practices of the restoration of armour. It was found that most of the interventions took place with the intention for display within the Grand Master's Palace during Sir Gaspard Le Marchant's government. This is evident in the technique and workmanship with which such interventions were carried out. However other interventions were found to go back to the time when they were actually used. Other repairs date to the post World War II era. The study of the merits and retention of such interventions is also incorporated with the discussion. This also includes recommendations on presentation, interpretation, display and preservation for future reference.