Conservation and restoration of a votive mask from Jiyeh in Lebanon

Abstract

A terracotta mask discovered at the site of Jiyeh (ancient Porphyreon) in Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast between Beirut and Sidon, underwent conservation and restoration in 2014. A silicone cast of the object was made as part of the process, which included reconstruction of the losses and final retouch. The state of preservation of the object was assessed during the course of the conservation. A study of the production technique permitted the mask production process to be reconstructed to a large extent.

Keywords

• conservation
• ceramic technology
• terracotta
• Hellenistic mask
• reconstruction
• retouch