Deposited for health and conservation reasons, these elements from the cathedral of Reims reflect, with the many casts also preserved, the history of the restoration of the monument since the XVIIe century.
It is accessible to researchers, who also have a digitized inventory, for the general public, it can also be accessible during the European Heritage Days.
Since the first quarter of 2015, the lapidary depot of the Reims Cathedral is now located in premises on the Chanzy site, in Châlons-en-Champagne.
Made up of more than 900 carved elements (300 pallets each with an average of three carved elements), this depot reflects the history of the restorations of the Reims Cathedral since the 17th century as well as the history of the deontology of the restoration of the cathedral, especially since the major projects of the 1990s.
A depot that reflects the history of the restoration of Reims Cathedral
The archives of historical monuments dedicated to the cathedral’s construction sites since 1988 bear witness to the constant concern to have a place of deposit. This concern is sometimes at the origin of restoration choices. Indeed, the removal of the altered parts of the facades but also the manufacture of molds repeatedly raise the question of the conservation of these elements, originals and molds.
The site of Chanzy, in Châlons-en-Champagne, is quickly chosen and the pallets formed after the restorations of the 1990s and early 2000, largely preserved in a storage area for rent in Reims, were moved, shortly before 2004, in hangars liberated by the army. After a few years of deteriorating conservation conditions in these open spaces, it was decided, in 2012, to develop cells located nearby.
A project of collections of several months
In 2014, a real project of the collections is implemented, thanks to two trainees specialized in heritage, a work coordinated by the Regional Conservation of Historical Monuments, of the DRAC Champagne-Ardenne.
The cells were equipped with racks along the entire length of the walls and in their center, after pouring a concrete screed at the location of the poles. A non-woven fabric, installed under the frame, isolates dust and scruples. Finally, lighting and closing the doors are ensured.
From the available paper inventory, the systematic evaluation of all pallets was carried out: identification of pallets, their contents, evaluation of dimensions, rack plan and storage capacity.
Rather than a classification by date period and place of origin on the cathedral, it is the format (dimensions) / place of origin, more realistic, which was chosen, the computer allowing a multiple search. A directory of inventories, intended to receive the location of each item, while each pallet was labeled (current location and future location, inventory number(s), etc.).
Conservators-restorers, specialist in art history...
Before moving, a cleaning of all the pallets was carried out, this in order to avoid carrying garbage and dust and to stop any risk of alteration of friction or infestation. In order not to alter the epidermis of the stones and preserve the moving elements, the work is entrusted to conservators-restorers. A test, carried out by the restorers, on a silicone mold of more than twenty years allowed to verify its perfect conservation.
At the same time, specialists in medieval art history have studied the relevance of the repository. Only the conservation of some elements has been questioned, while some, from other buildings in Reims, will be returned to the latter (less than 2% of the elements).
Once all the pallets were installed in the new secure room, a systematic collection of all the pallet elements was carried out from the inventory.
A site open to researchers, historians...
Now accessible to researchers, students, professors, historians… specialists of the Gothic cathedral of Reims and medieval archaeology in general, this lapidary depot, equipped with a digitized inventory, could also become a laboratory for the study of casts and molds over several decades.
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