Workshop at the Ceramics Reconstruction and Restoration Laboratory of the Wrocław Academy of Art and Design

On November 18 we conducted a heritage laser cleaning workshop at the Ceramics Reconstruction and Restoration Laboratory of the Wrocław Academy of Art and Design. Though the workshop was dedicated to students, faculty members also joined in. The practical part was preceded with a theoretical introduction, whereby the crucial aspects of the phenomena of laser light and laser ablation as well as of the design and operation of heritage cleaning laser systems were discussed. Examples of laser application in Restauro's work were also presented.

During the workshop, we showed how a laser system can be applied "in real life" to various surfaces, i.e. metal, bone, stone and ceramics, including some of the students' diploma pieces. The participants were amazed to see the effects and pace of removing oil repaintings from a highly sculptured ceramic surface. Within minutes the laser did as much work as a student relying on traditional methods for a whole semester.