Archeofactu's participation in the opening of the Royal Treasury Museum* at the Ajuda National Palace, in Lisbon, resulted in the conservation and restoration of an ensemble of 242 pieces of cast, repoussé, engraved and chiselled silver included in the Germain collection, a unique testimony to the most sumptuous representation tableware of the 18th century, commissioned by King D. José I from the goldsmith François-Thomas Germain, in June 1756.
* The Royal Treasury Museum permanently presents a large part of the assets of the former Portuguese Royal House, belonging to the Crown, or coming from private collections of the various members of the royal family. It is a worthy setting for the presentation of a unique collection at an international level due to its size, rarity and quality, with particular significance for a country with a history spanning nine centuries. It is possible to observe more than 1000 pieces, namely goldsmithing, jewellery, furniture, textiles, painting and paper, which are distributed across eleven centers which contextualize their origin and their artistic and symbolic value. The pieces evoke royal power, royal devotion, diplomatic activity, nineteenth-century collecting, but also the private daily life of a royal family. ©
Acknowledgements Lisbon Tourism Association ~ Ajuda National Palace ~ Royal Treasury Museum ©
