Restorer

A restorer must have the full knowledge of the materials which are used in those artifacts and understand different painting techniques.

In the past, a restorer must be an apprentice for three years and four months to learn the required skills and knowledge. Now restoration becomes a major in school. There are many courses a student has to take in order to become a restorer, like chemistry, and materials courses.

1. Responsibility, Education, and Requirement of Restorers

An excellent art restorer is responsible for repairing cultural reliefs such as murals, sculptures, ceramics, textiles, paintings, calligraphies, books, and other cultural objects or historical artifacts. The job often requires research to know what the best course of action to take. Below, an art restorer's duties, education, training, certification, competencies, and skills will be mentioned.

(1) Responsibility

Cleaning an artwork and preserving it for the future are the main focus. However, there are still other tasks that might be involved, like developing and maintaining standards for storing, handling, installing, packing, shipping artworks, and collaborating with scientists or colleagues.

(2) Education

In the early days, restoration work resembled an apprenticeship. Like masters and apprentices, new staff work under the guidance of masters, and masters taught apprentices when the apprentices had any questions.

Nowadays, a bachelor's degree in art conservation or a similar subject area is required. They might also need to learn chemistry, anthropology, studio art, and art history. And an art restorer still might want to apprentice under a master restorer before jumping into a major restoration project.

Besides, "self-development" is also very important Restorers are often reminded that the artifacts are our best teachers. The artifacts contain a lot of information when been observed carefully. The restorers must have sufficient understanding of the artifacts so that they can come up with many usable materials and solutions.

(3) Requirements

1. A passion for the art.
2. Detail-oriented and patience.
3. Other essential skills depend on the project. For example, the knowledge of chemistry and in-depth understanding of paints and canvas.

2. Passing Down Knowledge

In the National Palace Museum, the restorers are all considered government employees who must pass an official examination before they can be recruited. Occasionally, when a senior restorer retired without hiring new employees, the working knowledge ran into the problem of not being passed down.

3. Differences Between Conservator and Restorer

	Conservator	Restorer
Differences	1. The person is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of things of cultural or environmental significance. 2. The protector stabilizes the piece and stops degradation. 3. Art protection focuses on the use of preventive measures to stabilize and preserve objects in order to inhibit the continued or future deterioration of objects or their components. 4. Ideally, protective treatment will not hinder future inspections or scientific analysis, nor will it adversely affect the future treatment or function of the object. 5. A conservator is someone that generally has had advanced training 6. An effort to preserve the original artwork to the greatest extent without compromising its material, artistic and historic integrity. 7. Specialized in one material category. 8. Specialized in the cleaning or removal of agents that cause damage. 9. Not attempting to return object to its original state. 10.High level of expertise 11. Focusing on preserving the original work. 12. Sometimes removes the old/restoration attempts. 13. Requires certifications. 14. Needs knowledge of the background of the artwork.	1. People who repair or renovate architectural art. 2. Work to put the art into its original form. 3. A restorer doesn’t usually have the same education (learn from experience). 4. A manner of care or treatment in which the goal is to bring an object back to its original appearance or function. 5. Usually uses familiar or preferred material. 6. Goes through an apprenticeship/trained as artist. 7. Only proceed in the museum after considering the possibility of success. 8. Some may not consider the long-term damage effects of using certain material. 9. Skilled artists. 10. Usually makes permanent changes.
Similarities	1. Requires chemical knowledge. 2. Understand the craft and production materials. 3. Artistic skills needed. 4. Will complete the project with care and professional knowledge. 5. Should have the appropriate experience for the Job. 6. Must be a qualified professional. 7. Goal is to make an artwork better for the future. 8. Return the artwork to a more improved and preservable state. 9. Requires years of hands-on experiences.