Urartu collection to be restored with US fund

ISTANBUL-Hürriyet Daily News

The Urartu jewelry collection of Istanbul’s Rezan Has Museum dates as far back as the 8th century BC. The works reflect the characteristics of Urartu tastes, with the pieces having functional and religious significance, as well as adornment purposes. The resroration of the collection will be conducted in Turkey.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch has announced that it will provide funds to the Rezan Has Museum for the restoration of its Urartu jewelry collection, which dates as far back as the 8th century BC. The support is being provided within the scope of Bank of America’s art protection project, which is being carried out on a global scale.

The project originally started in 2010 focusing on Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but this year it will spread to Asia, South America and the U.S. It provides funds for the restoration of 20 different artworks and crafted objects from 19 countries. The project has three basic legs: “Enable,” “Share” and “Preserve,” and its ultimate aim is to increase public awareness of art and history on global level.

Istanbul’s Rezan Has Museum owns Turkey’s largest Urartu jewellery collection. The collection includes hair clips, crowns, necklaces, medals, bracelets, anklets, broaches, and buttons, amounting to nearly 1000 items in total.

The works reflect the characteristics of Urartu tastes, with the pieces having functional and religious significance, as well as adornment purposes. The restoration and the conservation of the objects will be conducted in Turkey.

Among the 20 projects the institution is preparing to provide funds for elsewhere are a number of Leonardo Da Vinci’s early hand writings, which are currently kept in the Castello Sforzesco castle in Milan, Picasso’s “Woman Ironing” at the Guggenheim Museum and a Tintoretto painting at the Thyssen Museum in Madrid.

‘Project targets education of students’

Bank of Amerika Merrill Lynch Turkey General Manager Elif Bilgi Zapparoli said the institution was proud to collaborate in the protection of historical wealth in Turkey.

She added that she believed that getting to know other cultures through art in a increasingly well-integrated world encouraged innovation and tolerance.

Rezan Has Museum Chair of Advisory Board Ahu Has also said they attached utmost importance to academic publications and education by making use of the privileges of being a university museum.
“The project to restore and conserve our Urartu jewellery collection primarily targets the education of our students and youth with a scientific approach,” she said.

The Bank of America Merrill Lynch Art Protection Project collaborates with more than 5000 art organizations in the world. The project runs a very diverse approach, particularly prioritizing programs that help to achieve a better understanding between different cultures. The project funds all branches of fine arts.