History of the Laboratory

     With the valuable collection at the Government Museum, Chennai, it was felt necessary to treat the bronze icons disfigured by corrosive crusts in order to expose the decorative details and to eliminate the bronze disease, which brought in added deterioration. As a result of the discussion with various chemists, the electrolytic restoration of bronzes was started in the museum. The Chemical Conservation and Research Laboratory in the museum owes to the scientific vision and foresight of Dr. F. H. Gravely, Superintendent of the Government Museum, Chennai in the early 1930s. Dr. S. Paramasivan was appointed as the Chemist in 1930. He was very active both in conservation and research activities. Besides the treatment of bronze objects, ethnological, prehistoric and numismatic objects were treated. In 1935, the Government Museum, Chennai was also of help to Archaeological Survey of India in the examination of wall paintings at Thanjavur, Sittannavasal etc.

     In 1937, a separate Chemical Conservation Laboratory Block ( Old Chemistry Block ) was built, being the only one of its kind in India. A two storied building for the Laboratory was constructed in 1963 during the Curatorship of Mr.N.Harinarayana. He was Instrumental for outreach conservation activities, research and a course on Care of Museum Objects. In 1997, the Chemical Conversation and Research Laboratory was recognised as a research institution to conduct research leading to Ph. D. Degree during the Curatorship of Dr.V.Jeyaraj.

Research Activities

     One of the foremost activities of the Laboratory is to conduct research in conservation and materials of the past. In the beginning much research was conducted by Dr. S. Paramasivan, the first Curator of the Laboratory, on paintings and metallic antiquities. The research findings were published in leading scientific journals both in India and abroad. The research activities continued successfully by the Curators of the Laboratory till date. At present research projects such as Fingerprinting of South Indian Bronze Icons, Holographying Museum Antiquities, Survey of Monuments in Tamil Nadu, Conservation of Metallic Antiquities etc. are under progress.

Conservation Research Activities

     The Laboratory is interested in the conservation research in order to find out new techniques and materials in collaboration with leading research institutions such as Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam; Indian institute of Technology, Chennai; Anna University, Chennai and foreign institutions like the Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia. The Laboratory was recognised as a research institution in 1997 by the Madras University to conduct research leading to Ph. D. Degree. Dr. V. Jeyaraj, Curator of the Laboratory is a recognised research guide. At present two part time and one full-time research scholars are working on research projects Viz. Conservation of Thanjavur Paintings, Wall Paintings, Technical Study of Chola Coins.


Publications

     The publication of this Laboratory from its inception is commendable. Leading national and international journals such as Indian Academy of Sciences, The Current Science, Conservation of Cultural Property in India, Studies in Conservation, Technical Studies, etc., published the out come of the research works of this Laboratory. Besides hundreds of research and popular articles many books and bulletins have been published. Handbook on Conservation in Museums, Care of Museum Objects, Conservation of Archival Materials, An Introduction to the Chemical Conservation and Research Laboratory, Care of Archival Materials, Conservation of Temple Objects, Conservation of Cultural Property in India, Care of Paintings etc., are some of its publications. Many conservation reports have been prepared by the successive Curators regularly through out the career of this Laboratory.


Training

     In order to disseminate the expertise of the Laboratory, in 1974, a refresher course on Care of Museum Objects was started by Mr.N.Harinarayana the then Curator. Professionals and students of museology and related subjects received the training. Course on Care of Temple Antiquities for the Executive Officers of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, a course on Care of Archival Materials exclusively for the Archivists, a Course on Care of Library Materials for Librarians, a Course on Care of Art Objects exclusively for art students etc. are conducted. Besides these, training programmes to the school and college students are conducted both in Chennai and districts on Care of Cultural Materials and Preservation of Monuments. It has introduced internship training in Conservation for a period of one year.


Conservation Service

     The Laboratory is extending services to the public and other institutions interested in the preservation of objects of the past at nominal charges. The Laboratory is not able to meet the requirements of the Museum as well as the outside demand due to want of staff in the Laboratory. On request, the Curator delivers lectures on conservation in order to popularise the subject.

Conservation Gallery

     For the first time in India, the Chemical Conservation and Research Laboratory of the Chennai Museum has set up the Chemical Conservation Gallery in the Museum in order to educate the visiting public on the preservation of the cultural and artistic heritage of our county.

Staff

     The Chennai Museum is a multidisciplinary museum having over two lakhs of objects and about 5% of them are in need of conservation treatment. Three members of staff man the Laboratory. One volunteer is helping in the laboratory's work.

Course on Conservation for Archaeologists, Museologists and officers of the Hindu Temples Administrating Departments (HR&CE ), run mainly with a view to providing an alternative to sandblasting as a method of cleaning walls and sculptures in Temples.

Training to Idol wing, Police personnel in identifying antiques especially bronzes and sculptures.