The restoration of antique instruments deontologies and techiques
The restoration of an antique instrument whether historic and/or belonging to the patrimony is a complex and difficult issue requiring various techniques and knowledge. First of all, we need to distinguish between the different families of musical instruments, each with its own specificity, materials; therefore requiring particular restoration techniques. According to the Sachs/Hornbostel classification still in use in the museums, the main families of instruments are :
-Idiophones, which sound is produced by the material composing the object when it vibrates : for
example bells, Jew’s harp
- membraphones, which sound is produced by the vibration of a membrane, for example drums
- cordophones, which sound is produced by strings in tension between two points, for example
violins, guitars
Aerophones, which sound is produced by vibrations transmitted by air, for example flutes, trumpets
the restoration of antique instruments deontologies and techiques