The International IADA Congress is the relevant gathering where professionals take the opportunity every four years to exchange ideas on the conservation of cultural property on paper and related materials over seven days.
About 500 experts, be they restorers, students, representatives of research institutions, archives and museums as well as manufacturers from all over the world, met last week in Halle a. d. Saale, Germany, attended a wide variety of workshops and learned about new projects, research results and materials in expert lectures.
Deffner & Johann has been involved in various IADA events as a sponsor and exhibitor for many years. We greatly appreciate the intensive, subject-specific exchange with visitors and experts at our stand as well as their suggestions and feedback on various issues.
Mr. Gerard and his assistant Mrs. Sapel, manufacturers of Handmade European Restoration Paper, answered all questions and advised interested parties in a particularly knowledgeable manner using historical scoop and sample booklets.
Olivier Masson (paper conservator, Zurich) from Lascaux gave a comprehensive explanation of the use of the Humediumification Chamber HC 5, which is used for the controlled and safe humidification of works of art on paper, which, due to their condition, would no longer tolerate any other humidification method.
For the areas of preventive conservation and art handling, Yngve Magnusson (Dipl. Rest. Univ., Museum Lillehammer, Norway) passed on his experience directly from his everyday practice and gave comprehensive advice on specialised topics relating to surface cleaning, exhibition management in museums and the archiving and storage of art objects.
On another major focus for our stand visitors was the enormous selection of Japanese papers as well as tools and equipment from the D&J range used for paper restoration.
We would like to thank not only the visitors to the congress for three successful days of events, but also those responsible, organisers and helpers who ensured that the IADA congress was once again a thoroughly successful event this year.
We are happy about the many positive impressions we were able to take back to Röthlein.
The next IADA Congress will take place in Oslo in 2026 – see you there!
