Search Results (269)

This article examines the significant contributions of Helga de Alvear as a gallerist, collector, and patron, a pivotal figure in the evolution of the Spanish and international contemporary art market. Her legacy is particularly notable through the establishment of the Helga de Alvear Museum in the city of Cáceres, intended to share her vast collection of over 3000 works and foster exhibition, research, conservation, and education. The study analyzes her art collection, highlighting its substantial international minimalist art component, contextualizing its development with her personal and professional journey. Furthermore, it explores the institutionalization of her legacy, from the Helga de Alvear Foundation to the creation and evolution of the museum, its innovative architecture and museography, and its impact on Cáceres’s urban landscape. Full article

Museums play an essential role in preserving both cultural and natural heritage, safeguarding samples that offer invaluable insights into our history and scientific understanding. The integration of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) has significantly advanced the study, restoration, and conservation of these priceless objects. This work explores the application of micro-CT across three critical areas of museum practice: sample virtualization, restoration assessment, and the analysis of fossil specimens. Specifically, micro-CT scanning was applied to fossils stored in the G.A.M.P.S. collection (Scandicci, Italy), enabling the creation of highly detailed non-invasive 3D models for digital archiving and virtual exhibitions. At the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence, micro-CT was employed to evaluate fossil bone restoration treatments, focusing on the internal impact of menthol as a consolidant and its effects on the structural integrity of the material. Furthermore, micro-CT was utilized to investigate a sealed bee preserved in its cocoon within a paleosol in Costa Vicentina (Portugal), providing unprecedented insights into its internal anatomy and state of preservation, all while maintaining the integrity of the specimen. The results of this study underscore the versatility of micro-CT as a powerful non-destructive tool for advancing the fields of conservation, restoration, and scientific analysis of cultural and natural heritage. By integrating high-resolution imaging with both virtual and hands-on conservation strategies, micro-CT empowers museums to enhance research capabilities, improve preservation methodologies, and foster greater public engagement with their collections. Full article

Radiography, favoured for its ability to provide a non-invasive insight into the contents of wrapped or coffined artefacts, has revolutionised the study of mummified human and animal remains. Despite this potential, the technology is limited by its capacity to realistically visualise the surface attributes of these often-complex artefacts. In this paper, photogrammetry—a technique widely used in archaeology and heritage applications—is applied to build upon the radiographic investigation of six ancient Egyptian votive artefacts from Manchester Museum; a study which combines the two techniques for the first time on votive material from the collection. The paper showcases the results gained through clinical radiography techniques (digital X-ray and computed tomography) on the internal contents of the artefacts, highlighting the problems encountered when viewing the outer surface. With a simple on-site photogrammetry protocol, improved visualisation was possible, providing photo-realistic renderings with important potential for both research, conservation and engagement. Full article

The last decade has seen a transformative advancement in computational technologies, enabling the precise creation, evaluation, visualization, and reproduction of high-fidelity three-dimensional (3D) models of archaeological sites and artefacts. With the advent of 3D printing, both small- and large-scale objects can now be reproduced with remarkable accuracy and at customizable scales. Artefacts composed of organic materials—such as wood—are inherently susceptible to biological degradation and thus require extensive, long-term conservation employing costly methodologies. These procedures often raise environmental concerns and lead to irreversible alterations in the wood’s chemical composition, dimensional properties, and the intangible essence of the original artefact. In the context of public education and the dissemination of knowledge about historical technologies and objects, 3D replicas can effectively fulfill the same purpose as original artefacts, without compromising interpretative value or cultural significance. Furthermore, the digital data embedded in 3D surface and object models provides a wealth of supplementary information that cannot be captured, preserved, or documented through conventional techniques. Waterlogged wooden objects can now be thoroughly documented in 3D, enabling ongoing, non-invasive scientific analysis. Given these capabilities, it is imperative to revisit the philosophical and ethical foundations of preserving waterlogged wood and to adopt innovative strategies for the conservation and presentation of wooden artefacts. These new paradigms can serve educational, research, and outreach purposes—core functions of contemporary museums. Full article

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, in partnership with the Museum Conservation Institute, investigated the use of Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) with visible and blue light to assess micro-scale details on glass surfaces. The image sets were captured using a bespoke RTI dome, which greatly facilitates the repeatability of the process. Our tests suggest that if conducted with care, this technique allows tracking and comparison across time of the continued deterioration of crizzled glass. This technical note introduces the project, addresses challenges, and discusses results in order to provide guidance to others looking to replicate a similar protocol. Full article

The European Charter for Wine Tourism (2005) promotes the sustainable development of tourism activities associated with viticulture. The document identifies the active role that wine-growing territories must play in the conservation, management, and valorization of their resources. This study aims to understand the degree of linkage that this Charter establishes with initiatives for the heritage of wine culture, specifically focusing on wine museums in Spain. It examines how these museums contribute to defining a tourism development program, constructing a common strategic vision, and encouraging cooperation between the social and economic agents involved in the territory. As case studies, the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture (La Rioja), considered by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as the best in the world, and the Valdepeñas Wine Museum (Castilla-La Mancha), an example of rehabilitation and musealization in the region with the highest concentration of vineyards in the world, have been chosen. The results show that both museums exemplify management, development, and cooperation in their respective territories, aligning with the theoretical assumptions established in the Charter. Full article

This study reviewed the benefits of outdoor activities and educational programs that take place in nature in terms of the cognitive and mental development of children. Research has highlighted the benefits offered to children by their participation in experiential activities that take place outdoors and are related to natural phenomena. These activities help children realize how important it is to conserve nature and protect sites of world heritage, thus becoming active citizens in the future. In this study, the uniqueness of Syros Island is presented, emphasizing the need for the world-renowned geological heritage of Syros to be preserved and promoted, both for the scientific community and for the public, with the aim of establishing a geopark in Apano Meria, as proposed by local authorities, along with a local museum. In this context, a working methodology was developed involving the design and implementation of a pilot educational program combining field-based activities, guided interpretation, and interactive learning tools. An indicative educational program was piloted with primary and secondary school students, as well as postgraduate students from the University of Athens. Recognizing the important role of geoparks in school education, the program focused on the rare geological phenomena on the northern side of Syros and was adapted to the characteristics of each participant age group. Full article

This study examines the architectural ceramic corpus—comprising azulejos (tiles) and alicatados (tiling mosaics)—preserved in the Alhambra Museum, with the aim of elucidating its historical, artistic, and technical significance. Through a systematic methodology combining visual analysis, documentary research, and typological classification, a representative selection of ceramic artefacts was assessed. This article explores the artistic characteristics and technological principles of pieces produced using painted, relief, metallic lustre, incrustación, alicatado, cuerda seca, and arista techniques and reconstructs the historical trajectory of these decorative practices, tracing their origins in the pre-Islamic world to their adaptation within the Alhambra Palatine City. This diachronic perspective contextualises the innovations observed in the citadel, where production strategies reflect both inherited traditions and local adaptations across different historical phases. The findings highlight the richness and diversity of the Nasrid (mediaeval era) and Christian (modern era) ceramic legacy in the Alhambra and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of manufacturing processes and conservation challenges associated with these architectural elements. This preliminary characterisation establishes a basis for future material analysis and supports broader initiatives in documentation and heritage management. Full article

The Hashim Chalbi house, a historic private residence with notable architectural features located within Erbil Citadel—a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014—was turned into a museum. This study utilizes space syntax analysis (depth maps) to explore the spatial configuration of the Hashim Chalbi house, aiming to evaluate its potential and provide guidance for conservation strategies that maintain its architectural and cultural integrity as a museum. Space syntax offers both a theoretical and analytical tool to map and interpret the spatial formation of heritage buildings. A commonly recognized limitation has been the lack of broader-scale spatial analyses of houses that can shed light on social and cultural interaction. This approach aims to provide a better analysis to inform conservation and restoration. Full article

This study investigates the potential of reality-based 3D digital modeling, acquired for scientific purposes, to enhance the understanding and accessibility of ballistic imprints on Pompeii’s city walls. These impact marks, attributed to the Sullan siege of 89 BC, were caused by projectiles launched by Roman elastic torsion weapons. High-resolution models were acquired through integrated 3D survey techniques to create both virtual and physical replicas. These assets enhance museum accessibility, offering interactive digital content and tactile 3D-printed replicas for visually impaired and mobility-restricted visitors. The findings highlight the role of digital heritage in archaeological research, conservation, and public engagement, bridging the gap between academic study and inclusive cultural dissemination. Full article

This study aims to investigate a chronological review of the term museum, defined by the International Council of Museums (“ICOM”) and Korean laws, and explore how the museum definitions have been revised historically. Then, it argues how the museum architecture has been spatially changed and explores whether the revised social roles and ethical responsibilities would impact the restructuring of the spatial changes. To this end, it scrutinized new ideas, significant issues, orders of words, and implicit intentions of the museum definitions over time. It analyzed the data of spatial change projects, which were collected through web crawling of the Korean National e-Procurement System. Then, the spatial changes were categorized regarding functions and characteristics. Through an in-depth investigation of a literature review and case studies, the findings suggest that museums had been understood as a place for collecting, exhibiting, and enjoying materials. However, they have been required to play diverse roles, such as collecting, conserving, exhibiting, researching, and communicating heritage for education, reflection, and sharing knowledge over time. However, the issue of cultural enjoyment has come into focus in Korean laws after 2007, and, as a result, spatial changes (e.g., creating immersive experience center, renovating exhibition spaces, and improving convenience spaces) have taken place exclusively in national museums. Thus, it is clear that national museums are aware of the need to actively think about their role with regard to the public and how architecture corresponds to this. Full article

Giant clams are ecologically important coral reef animals, with many species facing imminent local extinction. While many regions have undertaken recent assessments of their biodiversity assets, persistent gaps remain even in otherwise well-surveyed areas. This study sought to understand the geographic distribution of smaller-bodied and morphologically similar giant clams, specifically Tridacna maxima and T. noae, in the eastern Indian Ocean. Due to the difficulties in reliably identifying these species using morphological characters, we confirmed species identity and investigated intraspecific variation using sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene (COI). Seventy whole animal vouchers were newly sampled from a 1500 km span of remote northwestern Australian coastline over a decade, as part of an ongoing coral reef survey expedition of the Western Australian Museum and partners. Tridacna maxima had a limited distribution and was only genotyped from offshore oceanic reefs in the Rowley Shoals and Cocos Keeling Islands. In contrast, T. noae was well established beyond Ningaloo Reef, and was abundant at inshore sites throughout the Pilbara and Kimberley, and even offshore to Ashmore Reef. Phylogeographically, T. maxima did not group with conspecifics from the Western Pacific Ocean, including the east coast of Australia, but instead clustered with individuals from Malaysia, China, Taiwan, and Indonesia; T. noae exhibited a similar pattern. The affinity of Western Australian individuals with representatives from the Indo-Malay region and not eastern Australia will be an important consideration for these commercially important species. Novel haplotypes in both tested species occur in Western Australia. Continued sampling of eastern and central Indian Ocean giant clams, especially to continue to document the range of T. noae, is encouraged to understand connectivity in this basin. Together, these findings contribute to an improved baseline for conservation initiatives of these iconic coral reef animals in Western Australia. Full article

Research on fish skin artefacts’ dyeing practices among the Nivkh, Nanai, Ulchi, Udegei, Oroch, and Negidal Indigenous Peoples of the Amur River basin remains scarce. These fishing communities traditionally crafted fish skin garments, essential to their subsistence and spiritual life, adorning them with protective motifs. While artistic and cultural aspects of these belongings have been explored, their dyeing techniques remain understudied. This multidisciplinary research examines natural colourants in fish skin artefacts from international museum collections, using historical textual research, ethnographic records, Native Traditional Knowledge, and previous dye analysis by museum conservators. Findings reveal a restricted but meaningful palette of red, blue, yellow, and black colourants, sourced from plants, minerals, and organic materials. Early dyers extracted blue from indigotin-rich plants such as Polygonum tinctorium, or from Commelina communis petals. Red hues were obtained from Carthamus tinctorius petals, introduced through Silk Route trade networks, or from minerals like red ochre. Black was derived from carbon black, while riverine minerals were ground with dry fish roe diluted with water to create additional colour variations. This study first reviews fish skin use in Amur River Indigenous cultures, explores nineteenth-century dyeing materials and techniques, and finally considers broader implications for Indigenous material heritage. Full article

In their evolution from conservation places of isolated resources to social spaces in service of communities, museums are increasingly called to express their representative character towards their originating territories. Furthermore, the museum’s mission has been gradually enriched with new, more complex functions towards local communities, through a call to actively confront with their contexts, a trend the recent pandemic events have only accelerated. Cultural heritage, with museums at the forefront, as an acknowledged driver of socioeconomic development, has manifold impacts on territories, which have been identified and investigated in the literature, often from a potential perspective. Given the strong territorial component of the museum heritage connection with its reference context, this study aims to investigate the contribution that mapping and GIS technologies, traditionally employed at the scale of single museum buildings, can offer in assessing the actual “living” presence of museums in the local socioeconomic and productive fabric, through the relationships with other reference entities in the territories and their outreach. Taking a sample with a marked nature of spatially ‘distributed’ heritage (archaeologic museums of the Puglia region, South Italy) as a case study, the article presents a mapped representation of a questionnaire-based survey of museums’ recent territorial relationships. The twofold outcomes of the study show, on the one hand, that the investigated sample still experiences criticalities in fully expressing and communicating its potentialities and values in the current scenario and, on the other hand, that mapping technologies can concretely contribute to the museum sector’s innovation by examining its territorial relationships, in line with the current conceptual evolution, also with possible implications on museums’ quality assessment. Full article

This study investigates the integration of digital technologies in leading European museums to enhance heritage interpretation, increase visitor engagement, and contribute to sustainable tourism. As museums increasingly adapt to the digital age, they seek innovative solutions to enrich the visitor experience while promoting sustainability. This research uses a content analysis approach to examine the strategies employed by four prominent museums—the Louvre, the British Museum, the Prado Museum, and the Rijksmuseum. Key digital initiatives, including virtual tours, educational apps, and online collections, are identified as central components of their efforts to improve accessibility, facilitate interactive learning, and attract a wider global audience. Our findings highlight that these digital innovations not only provide visitors with more engaging and informative experiences but also align with sustainability objectives such as reducing carbon footprints and supporting cultural preservation. This study concludes that by leveraging smart technologies, museums are evolving into dynamic, globally connected institutions that strike a balance between conservation and visitor engagement, thereby fostering a more sustainable and inclusive approach to heritage tourism. Full article