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Radio Focus-Shoumen interviewed head of the Regional Museum of History in Shoumen Georgi Maistorski
Q. What is the condition of the halls that preserve exhibition items in the regional museum of history?
A. The museum in Shoumen is in urgent need of renovation. The roof above our Treasures Hall is in poor condition. Because of the roof damage, humidity in the halls sometimes reaches up to 80 percent. The lack of ventilation and a heating system could seriously damage some of the artifacts. Treasures Hall preserves 600 Byzantine lead seals. Lead is a metal that can be hardly maintained and humidity easily destroys its surface. The hall also protects the biggest coin collection in the country, which is not exhibited because of the poor conditions.
Q. So, humidity affects exhibition items that are made of metal?
A. Yes, as I mentioned we are facing the biggest problem with lead objects. A writing on the metal surface could disappear within a year. We are still researching the state of these artifacts. On a global scale, attempts to preserve lead artifacts have been put much effort in. This is one of the most difficult tasks for conservation artists.
Q. Can you give us some more details about the items that are preserved in the museum’s Treasure Hall?
A. One of the collections that I already mentioned is the 600 Byzantine medieval seals. These seals are unique since they were used for numerous documents among which official letters and contracts. Unique Bulgarian seals can be seen, as well. We also preserve coin-similar metal objects. These pieces of metal were used as currency. Jewelry, belts, dishes, statuettes and weapons are also preserved here. One of the interesting collections discovered in Shoumen fortress consists of 51 gold coins. These date back to the 13th century. We have also discovered there old Bulgarian jewelry, showing that the Shoumen fortress was an important settlement during the past. We also have a collection of 200 medieval Bulgarian coins, gold jewelry from the tomb near the Village of Ivanski and from Pliska.
Q. What is the condition of the halls that preserve exhibition items in the regional museum of history?
A. The museum in Shoumen is in urgent need of renovation. The roof above our Treasures Hall is in poor condition. Because of the roof damage, humidity in the halls sometimes reaches up to 80 percent. The lack of ventilation and a heating system could seriously damage some of the artifacts. Treasures Hall preserves 600 Byzantine lead seals. Lead is a metal that can be hardly maintained and humidity easily destroys its surface. The hall also protects the biggest coin collection in the country, which is not exhibited because of the poor conditions.
Q. So, humidity affects exhibition items that are made of metal?
A. Yes, as I mentioned we are facing the biggest problem with lead objects. A writing on the metal surface could disappear within a year. We are still researching the state of these artifacts. On a global scale, attempts to preserve lead artifacts have been put much effort in. This is one of the most difficult tasks for conservation artists.
Q. Can you give us some more details about the items that are preserved in the museum’s Treasure Hall?
A. One of the collections that I already mentioned is the 600 Byzantine medieval seals. These seals are unique since they were used for numerous documents among which official letters and contracts. Unique Bulgarian seals can be seen, as well. We also preserve coin-similar metal objects. These pieces of metal were used as currency. Jewelry, belts, dishes, statuettes and weapons are also preserved here. One of the interesting collections discovered in Shoumen fortress consists of 51 gold coins. These date back to the 13th century. We have also discovered there old Bulgarian jewelry, showing that the Shoumen fortress was an important settlement during the past. We also have a collection of 200 medieval Bulgarian coins, gold jewelry from the tomb near the Village of Ivanski and from Pliska.
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