Valentin Boissonnas

 

Born in Zurich 1972. Rudolf Steiner Schule, 1992 Federal Matura. 1994-97 Studies in conservation of archaeological and ethnographic artefacts at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. Internships at the British Museum, Wallace Collection, Swiss National Museum, as well as excavations in Turkey (Troia, Sagalassos). 1997 dissertation ‘The use of low pressure hydrogen gas plasma reduction on depletion gilded copper alloys’ (obtained with fist class honours). 1999 The conservation of outdoor bronze sculptures, New York Conservation Center. 2001 Masterclass on metallography of ancient and historic metals, Instituut Collectie Nederland, Amsterdam. 2004 Electrolytric techniques in the conservation of metals, HE-Arc, La Chaux-de-Fonds. 2011-12 Master in the Arts of Africa, Americas and Oceania (with distinction), Sainsbury Research Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich.

1997-2004 Conservator for archaeological metals at the Swiss National Museum. Since 1999 lecturer in metals conservation at the Haute Ecole de Conservation-Restauration, Neuchâtel. Since 1997 head of the Atelier de Conservation Valentin Boissonnas in Zurich. Vetting committee member for the TEFAF New York and Maastricht. 2004 Member of the Scientific Committee ICOM-CC Metals, 2003-2006 coordinator of the ICOM-CC sub-working group AIAE. 2002-2008 member of board of the Schweizerischer Konservatoren und Restauratorenverband SKR/SCR. 2020-2023 Assistant Coordinator ICOM-CC Metals Working Group. Advisory member of board of the Zentrum für Kulturgüteranalytik EMPA, and the periodical ‘Beiträge zur Erhaltung von Kunst und Kulturgut’ (VDR).

International projects in heritage conservation and training of professionals in Egypt, Holland, India, Cameroon, South Africa and the United States of America. Project leader for the interdisciplinary HE-Arc research and restoration project of the mummy of Ta-Sherit-en-Imen. http://projets.he-arc.ch/daughter-of-amun/

Publications

  • V. Boissonnas 2021. Kava bowls from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. www.oceanicart.com. Boissonnas 2021 Kava bowls from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga
  • V. Boissonnas 2020. Carlo Monzino, Collector (1933-1996). Pre-Contact, Michael Hamson Catalogue 2020. Hamson 2020 Monzino
  • V. Boissonnas 2018. Der Antropologe, der Maschinist und der Missionar: eine Bestandesaufnahme der Federmosaiken vom Keram Fluss Papua Neuguinea. Kunst&Kontext No. 16, pp. 2-16. PDF KK16-1 Federmosaiken vom Keram Fluss
  • V. Boissonnas 2018. Feather Mosaics from the Keram River, Exceptional Sepik River Assemblage Art. Tribal Art No. 90, pp. 102-113.Tribal Art Keram Feather Mosaics Boissonnas
  • Degrigny, C., C. Gaspoz, A. Rosselet, V. Boissonnas, R. Jeanneret, R. Bertholon. Developing a Decision Support System for Local Diagnosis of Heritage Metals. Proceedings of the Interim Meeting of the Icom-cc Metals Working Group, September 26-30, 2016, New Delhi, pp. 220-227. PDF Metal_2016_Dehli Degrigny, Gaspoz, Boissonnas
  • V. Boissonnas 2014. Beyond the Rim: A Comparative Study of Kava Bowls. Journal of the Polynesian Society 123 (4): 357-382. PDF Beyond The Rim
  • S. Barberio, V. Boissonnas, C. Brazzola, J. James & A. Küng 2010. Caring for outdoor sculpture in Lugano, Switzerland: Preventive conservation and long term maintenance. XXVI International Congress, Bressanone, Pensare la prevenzione, Manufatti, usi, ambienti. pp. 253-262. PDF Caring for outdoor sculpture Lugano
  • M. Balsiger, V. Boissonnas & M. Senn 2005. Katzenjammer im alten Aegypten; Untersuchung und Konservierung einer aegyptischen Bronze. Zeitschrift für Kunst und Kunsttechnologie (ZKK). 19. Jahrgang, Heft 1, pp. 103-116. PDF Katzenjammer im alten Aegypten
  • R. Cardani Vergani, H. Amrein, V. Boissonnas 2003. ‘L’ultima tomba del guerriero di Stabio’ Archäologie der Schweiz, No. 26, pp. 2-17. PDF L’ultimo guerriero longobardo
  • K. Schmidt-Ott & V. Boissonnas 2002. ‘Low-pressure hydrogen plasma reduction: an assessment of its application on archaeological iron’. Studies in Conservation 47, pp. 81-87. PDF Low pressure hydrogen plasma