Short Courses / Theoretical and practical course

The use of erasers for dry cleaning in restoration: state of the art and innovative approaches with self-produced tools

Date: October 24th, 2026
Course duration: 8 hours in a day, 4 hours of theoretical instruction from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 4 hours of practical training from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Number of participants: The laboratory session is limited to a maximum of 15 participants
Attendance mode: Mixed mode (the theory hours will be online and in-person; the lab will be in-person only.)
Course Location: Fondazione Biblioteche and Laboratorio Fortezza da Basso
Course cost: €220 for the full course, €120 for the theory section only.
Language: Italian/English subtitles are available only for the online theoretical part
Registration Procedure
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Description:

The course aims to apply dry cleaning methods using erasers, both commercial and self-produced. Initially, the genesis and state of the art of this methodological approach will be illustrated, also through some restoration case studies, and the latest research relating to the choice of medium and abrasive functional to the creation of a tool adaptable to the treatment of different materials and conservation conditions will be described.

Programme divided into modules:
  • Module 1 (Giulia Basilissi) The use of erasers in dry cleaning: early research and applications.
  • Module 2 (Andrea Cagnini) Diagnostic techniques in evaluating the performance of erasers in dry cleaning.
  • Module 3 (Cristina Scibè) Innovative developments in dry cleaning: the activity of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure within the CHANGES-PNRR project
  • Module 4 (Paolo Belluzzo, Emilia Vitolo) The application of erasers in cleaning operations in some case studies.
Laboratory Activity

The laboratory activity planned within this course aims at the creation, by each participant in person, of some erasers presented during the introductory phase and developed within the CHANGES PNRR Project. The operational phase will also constitute a testing moment, during which each participant will be invited to test both self-produced and commercial erasers on various materials of interest, in order to evaluate, case by case, their effective efficacy.

Target

Aimed at restorers and museum conservators from all sectors.

Mode

Mixed mode. 4 hours in-person/online at Fondazione Biblioteche, 4 hours in-person only at the Laboratory in Fortezza da Basso Viale F. Strozzi, 1 – 50129 – Firenze

Lecturers