Entrusted with the care of all three-dimensional works of art in the collection, objects conservators are concerned with both structure and surface of artifacts widely varying in material, size, and history. Whether an ancient bronze vessel, a 3D–printed plastic model, an outdoor stone monument, a mixed-media installation, or an ivory reliquary, each is vulnerable to complex processes of deterioration, while acquiring additional meaning as it endures in time.
Three-dimensional objects change physically and can also be intentionally altered in appearance, form, and function. Our work to is to understand and preserve these multifaceted objects, so that their rich biographies can be presented to our visitors.
