The course aims to provide students with the appropriate tools to recognize and understand the phenomena of wood degradation, highlighting how some assembly procedures can sometimes influence the conservative history of the works.

During the course, the anatomical structure of wood will be explored in depth and the behavior of this material in relation to thermo-hygrometric conditions will be studied. The biological deterioration of wood will also be analysed.

The program is divided into two parts: a theoretical part (15 hours) and a practical part (110 hours), with exercises on samples and on works.

1. Theory

1.1_Notes on the anatomical structure of wood (3 hours)

1.2_ Wood-water relationships (3 hours)

1.3_biodeterioration (4 hours)

1.4_Disinfestation/disinfection techniques: microwave, anoxic system and application of permethrin-based products. (5 hours)

2.  Practical activity

2.1_Practical exercise on samples: creation of mortise-tenon joints. (30 hours)

2.2_Practical exercise on works and/or samples: disinfestation techniques (20 hours)

2.3_Practical laboratory activity on works (60 hours)

Each section can be attended having followed the previous one with at least 75% of hours of presence and in the following order:

Section 1.1

Section 1.2

Section 1.3

Section 1.4

The course aims to train the restorer student on the detection of the state of conservation of a work of art through the analysis of the executive technique, the reading of the degradation of its constituent materials and the understanding of the causes triggering this degradation. The student will acquire the appropriate skills to properly design the restoration intervention based on the real needs of the wooden works. Thanks to a solid knowledge of restoration techniques and materials on the market, the student will be able to intervene on the work by choosing the most suitable method and the most innovative techniques using suitable materials.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Classroom-taught lessons and practical exercises in laboratory

Attendance

The attendance of laboratory activity is compulsory. Absences are permitted for no more than 25% of the total number of hours relating to the laboratory attended and for no more than 25% of the total number of hours of each individual section of the relevant laboratory. Registration of attendance is expected. Presence in the restoration laboratories is subject to the acquisition of the certifications relating to the safety courses as indicated in the regulations of the restoration laboratories.

Course books

G. Pieresca, Il legno e l’arte di costruire mobilie serramenti, Hoepli
G. Giordano, Tecnologia del legno, vol. I, UTET, Torino 1981
E. Scott, Lavorare il legno. Attrezzi, metodi, materiali, ebanisteria classica, Zanichelli, Bologna 1983
R. Bruce Hoadley, Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology, The Taunton press, 2000
G. B. Fidanza, N. Macchioni (a cura di), Statue di legno. Caratteristiche tecnologiche e formali delle specie legnose, Atti del seminario di studi Perugia 1-2 aprile 2005, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Roma 2008
L. Speranza, Metodologie e problematiche nel restauro della scultura lignea, in A. M. Spiazzi,
L. Majoli (a cura di), Atti della giornata di studio, Belluno 14 gennaio 2005, Silvana, Milano 2007, pp. 11-24
G. Canocchi, M. C. Gigli, M.D. Mazzoni, P. Stiberc, La lacuna nella scultura lignea. Problematiche di intervento, in Lacuna. Riflessioni sulle esperienze dell’Opificio delle Pietre
Dure, Atti dei convegni del 7 aprile 2002 e del 5 aprile 2003, Edifir, Firenze 2004, pp. 131- 135
M. Parri, C. Roquefeuil, L. Speranza, L’angelo custode di Tovo Faraldi: un problematico esempio di integrazione lignea, in OPD Restauro, n. 15, Centro Di, Firenze 2003

Assessment

1. Practical exercise: execution of structural restoration on a wooden sample aimed at evaluating practical skills of students. Duration of the test: 4 hours.

2. Oral exam on the topics covered during the lessons; evaluation of communication skills.

After having attended at least 75% of each laboratory section, the student will be admitted to take the relevant test during the official exam sessions.

The evaluation of the single section is made up as follows:

·  50% practical laboratory activity;

·  25% the PowerPoint presentation;

·       25% practical exercise.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.