Conservation-restoration process of the weapons collection

In February 2011, the conservation-restoration process of part of the collection of Frederic Marès weapons, which were admitted to the Museum following the closure in 2009 of the Montjuïc Military Museum, where they had been exhibited since 1962, was completed. A selection of this collection will be exhibited in the Collector's Office from May 2011.

The intervention has been carried out with the dual objective of ensuring the good conservation of the weapons, basically crossbows, melee weapons and armor elements, from the 16th to the 19th century, as well as improving their aesthetic presentation and being able to appreciate the metal decorations and marquetry.

The process consisted of:

• Chemical and mechanical cleaning to remove surface dirt, basically, waxes and varnishes applied in previous interventions and alterations caused by the application of corrosion products.

• The timely consolidation of fragile elements.

• The application of surface protection layers.