Restoration of sepulchral plastic works made of cement compositions

The restoration of sepulchral sculptures made of reinforced concrete is becoming increasingly relevant, as the issues of physical preservation of monuments are exacerbated by the lack of proper care and natural factors that are aggressive to this material. Timely professional restoration is important for keeping monuments in proper condition. Among professionals, it is usually more common to handle ancient works of art, however, artpieces made of cement compositions, which were first used by architects and sculptors at the end of the 19th century, also need preservation. The study aimed to analyse modern methods and provide examples of their implementation, which were applied in restoration practice and tested on specific artpieces. The authors’ experience of handling sepulchral plastic, obtained during the 2019-2024 restoration work at the Department of Architecture and Restoration of Lviv Polytechnic National University, was analysed in the study. The history of the appearance of plastic cement compositions has been analysed. The methods, techniques and technologies of working with various damage to monuments were discussed in detail on three practical examples. The research results described in the study have practical value for a wide range of art restorers, as they will help practitioners preserve the integrity of sculptural and architectural objects made of cement compositions from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The methods described in the study can also be applied to monuments made of reinforced concrete during the 20th century if similar technologies were used in their manufacture