Global Challenges Science Week in Grenoble from June 3rd to 6th, 2019

Céline Bonnot-Diconne and Marie Radepont were invited to present the research projects they conducted about Gilt Leathers as part of the Global Challenges Science Week which took place in Grenoble from June 3rd to 6th, 2019.

The 2019 Global Challenges Science Week is a major event bringing together over 700 French and international scientists, doctoral students, experts as well as public and private sector stakeholders.

The aims were to share the latest research findings, discuss transdisciplinary issues, and discuss opportunities for new international collaborations to address the key challenges of the 21st century.

Céline and Marie showed the methodology and the multidisciplinary aspect of their research.

More information here : www.edu.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

To see the planning : click here.

LA DEPECHE : The municipality is mobilizing for its heritage

Heritage, Bordères-Louron

Monday, May 6, Céline Bonnot-Diconne brought back to the church Saint-Germé, in Ilhan, the antependium she had restored. An antepedium is a decoration located in front of the altar. Like many other objects, it reflected the richness of a place: thus, it could be made of precious metal, embroidery and pearls ... or for the poorest ones like here, leather. An opportunity for the inhabitants and elected officials to discover this altar frontal, a specimen that is now rare in France. The conservator specified that the Pyrenees and the Alps regions are the places where one finds most of these decorative elements in leather. Indeed, the climate of the mountains is favourable for the conservation of this material with low temperatures and a significant humidity. If we add to this that the Revolution has rarely reached the valleys, the religious heritage is rather well preserved.

The antependium has been restored in the studio of this artist, almost the only one in France to be interested in leather. She removed the dust, sewn it when necessary, put a little paint where it was too cracked. But she especially made talk this object. She explains that this is a re-use, the dimension being too big for the altar. The technique was always the same for the making of these altar fronts: a sheepskin worked to acquire flexibility, carved in tile and covered by silver leaves. These leaves were then coated with a golden varnish, hence the name of the craftsman who did this work: gilder on leather. It was still necessary to press molds on the tiles and to paint the raised decorations thus obtained. Ilhan's Deputy Mayor, Gilbert de Benque, is very proud of the work done. Because, for him, it was necessary to do it. All that the elders left us must be kept. So that, in a few years, our young people say: They have kept a lot of things. A facing that should only be maintained with a feather duster, even the passage of a cloth that may ultimately deteriorate.

Conference Gilt leather... The decorations kept in the Pays d'Aix

HISTORY, CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION
CÉLINE BONNOT-DICONNE AND JEAN-PIERRE FOURNET
September 21 at 18h
Organized by the museum of Old Aix.

A few days after the Heritage Days, the museum offers a conference, where will be discussed the decor of the Town Hall and museums of Aix, those of the castles of Fonscolombe, Borély and La Barben. The speakers are two prominent French specialists in golden leathers.

Free entry

Conférence les Jeudis du musée, le madd-bordeaux

Every Thursday at 7 pm, the museum invites the public to listen to the intervention of an actor from the world of decorative arts or design or to attend a presentation of a specific theme related to the collections.

April 12 2018 : The conservation and restoration of leather objects. Meeting with Céline Bonnot-Diconne, Master of Art.

Read more clic here

Pensioner At The Medici Villa - Meeting 1

As part of the exhibition Hébert, resident at the villa Medici, the museum offers meetings with former residents of the villa Medici.

First encounter with :

Céline Bonnot-Diconne
Restorer of leather
Master of Art 2015
Former Pensionary at the Academy of France in Rome - Villa Medici
2CRC - Leather Conservation and Restoration Center

Thursday, March 22 2018 at 6:30 pm
Large gallery of the Hébert museum
Free entry

Read more of the article by clicking here

Retrouver la provenance des cuirs de Cordoue avec l’accélérateur de particules New-AGLAÉ

En 2011, Céline Bonnot-Diconne, conservatrice-restauratrice d’objets en cuir, se rapproche des scientifiques afin de mieux comprendre les techniques qui se cachent derrière la fabrication de ces décors, dont les surfaces peuvent atteindre plusieurs dizaines de mètres carrés.

De cette initiative naîtra quelques années plus tard le projet de recherche CORDOBA, sous la responsabilité de Laurianne Robinet, ingénieure de recherche au Centre de Recherche sur la Conservation (CRC).

Lire la suite de l'article en cliquant ici

Gilt Leather Panel from the castle of Villeneuve- Lembron (63)

This is a small panel made up of various elements originating from polychrome gilt leather wall-hangings. In the midst of foliage, a putto leans on a decorated vase, being alternately to the left or right of it. The meeting of two panels normally allows to show a whole vase. Unfortunately an old restoration severely damaged the decor by altering the reading of the patterns. We therefore decided to de-restore completely the panel. Then we reproduced the missing seams and set the decor with a new power system so that it can be again exhibited.
This decoration is the only known of its kind in France.

Dating : second half of the 18^th century. Most likely French production of the Rhone Valley.

Seats from the national museum of the castle of Pau (South west of France)

A series of seats from the grand salon in the Castle of Pau has been restored in our workshop. Dating from the mid 19^th century, these upholsteries are adorned with gold leafs. Worn out, especially on the base and the arms, the leather is kept in place and restored by insertion of backings, infillings and retouching. The aim is to keep the integrity of the seats without removing (or replacing) the original upholstery.

VIDEO France 3 : Emission / Rhône-Alpes Matin diffusée le 06/10/2015

Céline Bonnot-Diconne, based in Moirans, near Grenoble, in Isère, joined the very closed circle of Masters of Art. She restores old leathers.
extract Rhône-Alpes morning of October 6, 2015

Watch the video by clicking here

24 Heures : Le château de L’Isle abrite un trésor unique en Suisse

Le château de L’Isle abrite un trésor unique en Suisse
«A L’Isle, le cuir a été à la fois repoussé et ciselé, ce qui est très original, observe Céline Bonnot-Diconne, restauratrice. De plus, on y trouve des motifs rarement conservés, peints à partir de laques rouges et vertes. Ce sont des tentures uniques.»
extrait de 24 heures signe Lausanne

Lire la suite de l'article en cliquant ici

Waterlogged Archaeological Leather Shoe Discovered on the Wreck of the Jeanne-Elisabeth (1755)

The leather shoe was discovered in 2011 on the wreck of the Jeanne-Elisabeth (sunk in 1755 near the coast of Languedoc-Roussillon). The impregnation process and freeze-drying has stabilized leather and authorized manipulations for study. Following this work, the reassembly and the reshaping of the shoe were conducted within the aim of an exhibition (http://musee-histoire-marseille-voie-historique.fr). This is a model with buckle and stacked heel. Leather is used grain outside. The estimated size is 36/37. This is probably a left foot. The shoe is sewn into heel axis, elongating forward tapered to form two thin strips. We name these ears ends or wings area. Provided with holes, the ears allow the passage of a metallic loop which connects them. The buckle has disappeared but traces show it was a removable model with a simple barb.

Dating: 1755

Conservation of a pair of coptic sandals kept by the Louvre museum in Paris

These leather sandals have been found in Antinoë (Egypt).

The leather is decorated with gold leaves and punches. The condition is poor. The shoes are flattened and the rests of the strips are not attached anymore to the soles. It is dirty.

Because we knew exactly the original shape of the lost strips, it was possible to make new ones with modern pieces of leather. These new parts have been reattached with very fine unwoven polyester backings. Reshaped, it has been retouched to match the aspect of the original leather.

Dating : Egypt, coptic period, after 130 AD.

Conservation of a choir bench kept in a church in Cherré (Sarthe).

This bench is a « recent » creation (XIX-XX^th century ?) which integrates older pieces in its conception. For example, the gilt leathers used as upholstery can be dated from the 18^th century.

This type of reuse is quite common. In this case, eight leather panels have been re-stitched together to form the seat, the back and two sides.

The original sizes of the panels are lost. They have been cut and associated with natural laced leather strips. The entire surfaces have been glued to a rough textile before being attached with nails.

Because the bench consists of different types of materials, it was necessary to restore as well the wooden parts and to undertake the insects disinfestation.
For the leather, the conservation process was as less interventionist as possible. The old assemblage had to be kept in place.

Dating : first half of the 18^th century for the gilt leather. Netherlands.

Restauratrice de métier, Céline Bonnot-Diconne revient d’une année passée à la Villa Médicis à Rome, d’avril 2011 à septembre 2012.

Pensionnaire de la prestigieuse Académie de France à Rome, plus connue sous le nom de Villa Médicis pendant un an et demi, Céline Bonnot-Diconne vient tout juste de regagner son atelier de restauration des cuirs (le Centre de Conservation et de Restauration du Cuir) en Isère.
EXtrait du Le Journal de Saone et Loire Nicolas Desroches

Lire la suite de l'article en cliquant ici