Nov 16, 2008 8:00 am US/Eastern
CBS 2 At The Met: Italian Ciborium
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
There's a lot going on behind these screens as museum staff members get ready to open a new gallery for Western European Art dating from 1050 to 1300. In the middle of this contained chaos is the star attraction, an 18-foot tall Italian Ciborium, or altar canopy, originally from a church near Rome.
Curator Peter Barnett tells CBS2's Dana Tyler that the marble structure is a perfect centerpiece. He says, "This gallery, devoted to the art of Medieval Europe from around the mid-11th century to 1300 is the biggest rethinking of Medieval Collection at the Met in decades, the last 50-60 years. It's typical of the art of Italy especially around Rome where these marble canopies would have stood over the altar."
From the Italian church to a private collection, the Ciborium has traveled. The Met has owned it for a century.
The conservation team has been working on the Ciborium since June at the Cloisters. It was moved here to the main branch in September and now they're getting ready for the November 18th opening. They're working hard everyday and you may be surprised they used everyday materials for the finishing touches.
Associate Conservator Sari Uricheck explains. She says "Right now I'm just applying a very local sort of wet compress, the mildest, with water. It helps if the water has a little contact with the surface. The water helps take a way really top surface of grim. It's a very subtle way to clean."
Another Associate Conservator, Carolyn Ricardelli diligently does detail work on another column.It's careful work that can make a real difference. "Once Sari goes through with the water, there's still some yellow residue. We think it might be part of old an coating of wax or oil. We're also using solvent gels. We make up ourselves, it has acidtone in it . I'm doing tests right now see if I can reduce this and it's working, so, at this point we'll do more testing to see how long it takes to remove yellow stain. It's like watching paint dry, but when it works exciting for us!"
The renovated gallery, devoted to the art of the High Middle Ages, is in the oldest part of the museum. It's on the first floor just steps beyond the museum's Great Hall. Curator Barnet hopes the marble canopy's new home finds a new audience. He says, "I think with new lighting, and the Ciborium towering over everything in middle of it, it will make people stop and admire one of the great collections in the world."
This renovated Medieval Gallery for Art from 1050 to 1300, and its centerpiece, the Ciborium opens Tuesday, November 18.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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