Heritage Malta - Conservation Division

26/08/2026

This poster had losses at its corners, requiring careful re-integration during treatment. Several colour-matching trials were carried out using watercolour on Japanese paper, which was then toned to the correct colour and used to infill the missing area.

Dan il-kartellun kellu partijiet mill-kantunieri neqsin, li kienu jeħtieġu integrazzjoni waqt it-trattament. Saru diversi provi biex jiġi mqabbel il-kulur, bl-użu tal-akwarell fuq karta Ġappuniża, li mbagħad ġiet miżbugħa fil-lewn korrett u ntużat biex timtela l-parti nieqsa.

06/08/2026

Our stone and monument conservator-restorers tackled a stubborn black crust on a marble inscription dedicated to Marquis Vincenzo Bugeja, damaged during Storm Harry. Using advanced laser cleaning technology in our inorganics lab, they removed it safely and effectively. This experiece reinforced the importance of having cutting-edge tools at our fingertips to preserve our cultural heritage for future generations.

Il-konservaturi restawraturi tal-ġebel u l-monumenti affrontaw sfida kbira biex ineħħu saff iswed u iebes minn iskrizzjoni tal-irħam iddedikata lill-Markiż Vinċenz Bugeja, li ġarrbet ħsarat waqt il-Maltempata Harry. Bl-użu tat-teknoloġija avvanzata tat-tindif bil-lejżer fil-laboratorju tal-materjali inorganiċi, irnexxielhom ineħħu s-saff b'mod sigur u effettiv. Din l-esperjenza saħħet l-importanza li jkollna għodod avvanzati f'idejn il-konservaturi restawraturi biex inkomplu nħarsu l-wirt kulturali tagħna għall-ġenerazzjonijiet li ġejjin.

28/07/2026

The painted decorations on the underside of the balcony at the Gran Salon (Archaeology Museum, Valletta) are currently being treated. The paintings exhibited extensive flaking and cupping following the direction of the wood grain. To safeguard all unstable paint during treatment, the affected areas were first faced with Japanese paper. Controlled heat was then carefully applied to gradually bring the lifted paint back into plane. Finally, a compatible and stable adhesive was introduced through the facing paper to securely readhere the paint layers to the wooden support, ensuring their long-term stability while preserving the original surface.

Qed isir ix-xogħol ta’ konservazzjoni tal-pitturi li jżejnu l-parti ta' taħt tal-gallarija ġewwa l-Gran Salon tal-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arkeoloġija, il-Belt Valletta. Il-pitturi juru żebgħa li qed tinqala' fid-direzzjoni tal-injam. Iż-żoni affettwati l-ewwel ġew protetti b'karta Ġappuniża sabiex tiġi ppreservata ż-żebgħa matul il-proċess ta’ konsolidazzjoni. Wara, ġiet applikata sħana kkontrollata sabiex id-diformazzjonijiet taż-żebgħa jerġgħu jinġiebu fil-livell tagħhom. Fl-aħħar, ġiet applikata kolla kompatibbli u stabbli, sabiex iż-żebgħa terġa’ titwaħħal mal-injam u tiġi ppreservata għas-snin li ġejjin.

This project is being supported by BOV

06/07/2026

🇬🇧 This large Savona maiolica platter (c. 1700), discovered during the 1965 demolition of the Auberge de Auvergne, features a putto seated on a rocky outcrop surrounded by floral motifs and butterflies. The platter retains perforations for the attachment of handles, which may have originally been made of silver, and bears a potter's mark on the reverse.

The object underwent comprehensive conservation treatment, including surface cleaning, the removal of deteriorated previous repairs, and structural reassembly using reversible conservation materials. Areas of loss were filled, reinforced where necessary, and carefully retouched to achieve visual integration with the original surface. A final protective coating was applied to ensure the long-term preservation of the object. The platter is on display at the Inquisitor's Palace as part of the current Fare Convito exhibit.

🇲🇹 Dan il-platt kbir tal-majolika minn Savona (madwar l-1700), li nstab waqt it-twaqqigħ tal-Auberge de Provence fl-1965, juri putto bilqiegħda fuq il-blat imdawwar b'motivi ta' fjuri u friefet. Il-platt għad għandu perforazzjonijiet għall-immuntar tal-manki, li x'aktarx oriġinarjament kienu tal-fidda. Għandu wkoll marka tal-fuħħar fuq in-naħa ta' wara.

L-oġġett għadda minn trattament komprensiv ta' konservazzjoni, li kien jinkludi t-tindif tal-wiċċ, it-tneħħija ta' tiswijiet preċedenti li kienu ddeterjoraw, u l-assemblaġġ tal-frammenti bl-użu ta' materjali riversibbli. Iż-żoni neqsin ġew mimlija, imsaħħa fejn kien meħtieġ, u rtukkati b'attenzjoni sabiex jinkiseb bilanċ viżiv mal-wiċċ oriġinali. Fl-aħħar, ġie applikat saff protettiv sabiex l-oġġett jiġi preservat għas-snin li ġejjin.

23/06/2026

The degradation of the cellulose fibres in paper artefacts causes the accumulation of yellow acidic compounds. When washing is possible, these acidic compounds could be extracted by clean water, improving both the stability and appearance of the paper. The test tubes show the colour difference of the water before and after cleaning the paper artefact.

Il-proċess tad-degradazzjoni taċ-ċelluloża fil-karti jipproduċi prodotti aċidużi u sofor. Meta jkun hemm il-possibbiltà biex il-karta tinħasel, dawn il-komposti aċidużi jistgħu jiġu estratti bl-ilma nadif, u b’hekk titjieb kemm l-istabbiltà kif ukoll id-dehra tal-karta. It-test tubes juru d-differenza fil-kulur tal-ilma qabel u wara t-tindif tal-karta.

19/06/2026

18/06/2026

Recently, Heritage Malta’s Prehistoric Department (South), in collaboration with the Inorganics team within the Conservation Department, carried out a condition assessment at Borġ in-Nadur Prehistoric Complex, including the southern structure. Each megalith was carefully examined to evaluate its current condition and identify any conservation requirements. Every megalith was assigned an individual number to facilitate identification.

10/06/2026

This fur-covered coin purse features a silver-toned metal frame with a traditional kiss-lock fastening mechanism. Hidden between the lining and frame is the manufacturer’s label: M. & H. Levy Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia. Conservators are responsible for documenting such labels, helping curators and researchers trace an object’s history, manufacture and significance.

Din il-borża tal-muniti miksija bil-pil, għandha qafas tal-metall b’dehra ta' fidda. Din tingħalaq permezz ta' mekkaniżmu tradizzjonali tal-qfil magħruf bħala kiss-lock . Moħbija bejn l-inforra u l-qafas hemm it-tikketta tal-manifattur: M. & H. Levy Pty Ltd, Sydney, l-Awstralja. Il-konservaturi għandhom ir-risposabbilta' li jiddokumentaw tikketti bħal dawn, li jgħinu lil kuraturi u riċerkaturi jidentifikaw l-istorja, il-manifattura u s-sinifikat tal-oġġett.

09/06/2026

Literally shedding some light on the continuous effort to preserve our cultural heritage!

🇲🇹Qatt ħsibt għalfejn xi siti storiċi jinżammu fid-dlam?
Maż-żmien, id-dawl jista’ jgħamel ħsara lil strutturi antiki, partikolarment l-uċuh delikati tagħhom. It-tim tal-Preventive Conservation ta’ Hertage Malta jistudja u jkejjel il-livelli ta’ dawl fl-ipoġew ta’ Ħal Saflieni sabiex dawn jinżammu f’livelli aċċettabli waqt li jinxtelu biss meta jkun hemm bżonn. B’hekk inkomplu nipproteġu dan is-sit għall-futur.

🇬🇧 Ever wonder why some historic sites are kept in the dark?
Too much light can actually damage ancient structures and delicate surfaces over time. Our preventive conservation team is underground inside the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, measuring light levels to ensure they are perfectly balanced. By keeping the lights low and only turning them on when needed, we can continue to protect these incredible places for the future.

03/06/2026

The gold borders framing the wall paintings at the Gran Salon within the Archaeology Museum are being meticulously cleaned from layers of dirt and grime that accumulated over the years. Ion-exchange resins are applied to the gold with a brush and left for a few minutes before being rinsed from the surface. The second photo below shows the gold before cleaning on the left and after cleaning on the right. This project is being supported by BOV.

Il-borduri tad-deheb madwar il-pitturi tal-ħajt fil-Gran Salon ġewwa l-Mużew tal-Arkeoloġija qed jitnaddfu mill-ħmieġ u trab li akkumulaw matul is-snin. Dan qed iseħħ permezz ta' Ion-exchange resins li jiġu applikati fuq id-deheb b’pinzell u jitħallew jaħdmu għal ftit minuti qabel ma' jitneħħew. It-tieni ritratt hawn juri d-deheb qabel it-tindif fuq ix-xellug u wara t-tindif fuq il-lemin. Dan il-proġett qed isir permezz tas-sapport minn BOV.