Exhibiting the finds of the icc michael shamah

Exhibiting the Objects of the

International Conservation Centre

Città di Roma

By Michael Shamah

Content1. Background

2. Objectives of the Project

3. Importance of the Project

4. Collection of Objects

5. Objectives/principles for an exhibition

6. Potential Exhibit Locations

7. Focusing on some Potential Objects

Background 1968: The Old Akko Development Company (OADC) bought some of the ownship of

the building from Labiba Ha'wa (the original owner).

1980’s: The building was bought, as a youth hostel but was declared bankrupt, in 1988.

c.2000: The building was bought again by a person called Wallid to become another youth hostel.

2006: The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) purchased the building. Also the Municipality of Akko agreed on the intention of making the building into a training centre for architectural conservation, called the International Conservation Centre.

The renovation started in 2009 and it was funded by the Dan David Fund and the City of the Rome.

The planning and implementation of the 1st stage of the renovation was by the IAA , where they also cleaned the

whole building, and assembled over 70 objects. This collection is the subject of this project.

• To Catalogue the Collection

• To evaluate the Collection

• To Identify the locations for exhibiting the Collection

• Concentrating on some of the items that seem significant, into a display.

Objectives of the Project

Importance of the Project•Exhibiting the objects of collection so that they can be easily recognised by everyone.

•Collection of objects are exhibited at the same time as other daily activities in a limited amount of space.

•To exhibit the collection of objects in a way that conveys their significance to the building.

Collection of the Objects

Collection of objects• The collection of objects were recorded onto a catalogue/spreadsheet.

• 7 columns; OBJECT NUMBER

(E.G. CR1)

TYPE (E.G. CERAMIC)

DESCRIPTION

(E.G. A BASE OF A VASE WITH A HINT OF BLUE THAT HAS 2 TRADEMARKS ON IT...LINDNER & CARTER (SNAKE AND ANCHER) & CHUSAN (VERY FAINT))

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE (E.G. YES)

GROUP/SINGLE DISPLAY

(E.G. SINGLE)

DATING WITHIN THE OTTOMAN PERIOD (E.G. NO) NOTES

(E.G. LINDNER & CARTER > MAYBE A SHIPPING COMPANY; CHUSAN (ENGLISH TRANSLATION FOR "Zhōushān" > A PORT IN NE CHINA

Collection of the objects continued...

12 POTTERY

1 CERAMIC

5GLASS

2 CLAY2 ROOF TILES (SOME FROM OF CLAY)

6 SCHIST

1 TERRAZZO

1 Metal with Emil

1 PLASTER

47 METAL

2 WOOD

TOTAL: OVER 70 FINDS (MAINLY MODERN)

3 PLASTIC

1 RUBBER/LEATHER

Example of The Objects.....

Some of the objects that were assembled in the Building

MARSEILLE ROOF TILE HEAD OF A TABACCO PIPE SHELL OF AN EXPLODED CANNON

MODERN TEA POT (EMIL COATING)

UNKNOWN CLAY OBJECT LATE OTTAMAN POTTERY

• No Archaeological Significance.

• Many Metal object that are eroded (The erosion will be a problem for display and conservation)

• The Collection is dating back from the Ottoman period to the present day.

• No Musial Value.

BUTThe Collection originates from the building....Therefore it is significant to the building.

Evaluation of the collection

• The exhibition should not conflict spatially with activities which take place in the building such as conferences and meetings.

• Enrich the experience of visiting the Building.

• The exhibition would be suitable to a wide range of audience.

• Allow the grouping of objects.

• Low-Tech / Low budget / Low Maintenance

Objectives/principles for an exhibition

Potential Exhibit Location

N

Location

Main Entrance

Potential Exhibit Locations

12

3 4N

Location 1• Located on the west facing wall of the Entrance Hall

•Has 2 sections of the wall that are a blank white space.

• Both can be used for displaying information/ and or posters.

•This would not collide with any other activities as it the display would be on a section of a wall.

N

Location 2• Located on the corner of the east facing and back facing wall.

•Has 2 sections of the wall that are a blank white space, a staircase and a raised surface which is base of an arch.

•The Blank white spaces can used for displaying Imagery / Verbal information

•To the east of the stairs a wide space that can be used, for exhibiting objects.

•The raised platform can be used for a find that will not conflict with any activity, yet create a fascinating display with protruding light from the entrance.

•Also there is a protruding stone (part of an arch)That can be used to display An object

Protruding stone – Part of an arch

N

Location 3• Located on the west facing wall, but to the south of location 1.

•Has an area that will cause any collisions with other activities.

•In front of the wall there is enough space to place a display unit there.

•The Wall can also be part of the exhibition...

N

Location 4• Located on the east facing wall, but south of Location 2.

•Niche Location > Behind the windows are is a platform, where objects may be displayed.

•This will be beneficial in the eyes of the visitor and of the management of the exhibition .

•Using the windows will not collide with any activity

•The areas around the window can also be used either for imagery, verbal information and or displaying some objects.

Focusing on some Potential Objects

Focusing on some Potential Objects

•Each Potential object to be focused on, will have the following information:

• What is the object.

• The reason for choosing it.

• Any knowledge about the object.

• How is the object going to be conveyed to the public.

1st Potential ObjectObject:

Ink Container Reason:

Complete object with an ink trademark.

Knowledge:

The Ink Container is glass. One can tell that it is an ink container, as it has a trademark showing an ink pen, but also the front of the container has a dent; that indicates there may have been information there. The object is Modern.

This object was identified by Yoav.

Conveying to the Visitors:

No need for 3D model as it is in good condition. It may have Verbal information about it, in a way that it tells a story, to make it more interesting. It can also show imagery of the Object. It may also be displayed on a small raised platform, that allows one to see underneath the object.

Object:

(An unfired Juglet) Unknown Clay Object

Reason: This object was once a juglet, but due to its fragility , it has caused archaeologists to debate over it....

Knowledge:

Unfired Clay and so therefore very fragile; Modern; As conveyed on photo it is a juglet

This “juglet” was identified by Edner Stern and Ido.

Conveying to the Visitors:

Maybe an imagery display...and maybe display it with information that allows the visitor to question him/herself what he/she thinks the object maybe...

2nd Potential Object

Taken: 19/06/2011

Taken: 30/11/2010

Object:

Head of a Tobacco pipe

Reason: This unique object is the old in the collection.

Knowledge:

Early Ottoman 16th/17th century; Commonly used in akko; Maybe from Gaza or made in a Gazan tradition.

This object was identified by many people and Idor

Conveying to the Visitors:

All types of imagery should be used (i.e. 3D and 2D); Also verbal information as well should be used for this object..so that both can effectively convey the significance of the object

3th Potential Object