Investigation and Conservation of East Asian Cabinets in Imperial Residences (1700-1900)

Gabriela Krist is professor at the Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna, since 1999. She studied conservation at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, as well as art history and archaeology in Vienna and Salzburg. For many years, she worked for ICCROM in Rome and at the Austrian Federal Office for the Care of Monuments (Bundesdenkmalamt), and is a UNESCO Chair holder.
Elfriede Iby beschäftigt sich seit 1994 mit der Erforschung der Bau- und Ausstattungsgeschichte des Schlosses Schönbrunn. Seit 1997 leitet sie die Abteilung Forschung und Dokumentation der Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. und ist mitverantwortlich für Denkmalpflege und präventive Konservierung der Bausubstanz und verantwortliche Kuratorin der historischen Ausstattung Schönbrunns und der Kaiserappartements. Elfriede Iby focuses on the research of the history of Schönbrunn Palace and its interiors. Since 1997 she is head of the Department of Research and Documentation of the Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. She is co-responsible for the preservation and preventive conservation of the building structure and responsible curator of the historical interior decoration of the Palace and the Imperial Apartments.

A project funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) allowed interdisciplinary research on the so-called "Chinese Cabinets" and the "Porcelain Room" at Schönbrunn palace in Vienna. These interiors can be considered as excellent examples of the mid-18th century taste of the Habsburg family for East Asian room decorations. The presentation of the research results from Schönbrunn formed an essential part of the second international conference "The Conservation of East Asian Cabinets in Imperial Residences (1700-1900)" now published in this volume. Enriched by contributions from international and interdisciplinary experts - conservators and art historians and natural scientists - the reflection of this special topic revealed remarkable findings on the manufacture, provenance and conservation history of porcelain, lacquerware, paper and textile wall hangings as integral parts of baroque interiors not only in Schönbrunn but also in related sites in Europe and other parts of the world.

The present publication summarizes the interdisciplinary research results on Japanese, Chinese and European porcelain, lacquerware and paper objects presented in the so-called "Chinese" and "Porcelain" Rooms at Schönbrunn palace. It further discusses case studies of comparable baroque interiors representing the predilection of the European aristocracy of the time.

The present publication summarizes the interdisciplinary research results on Japanese, Chinese and European porcelain, lacquerware and paper objects presented in the so-called "Chinese" and "Porcelain" Rooms at Schönbrunn palace. It further discusses case studies of comparable baroque interiors representing the predilection of the European aristocracy of the time.