Information about the object:
Historic confessionals from the 18th century are among the furnishings that filled the interior of the cathedral thanks to the commitment of Archbishop Wenceslas Hieronim Sierakowski. They are located in the side aisles by the walls between the arcades of the chapels. They were made by carpenters and woodcarvers from Lviv, i.e. Lisowski in 1776 and Pisak and Seredyński in 1777-1778. The wooden confessionals have rich ornamental decoration (rocaille) and gilded sculptures depicting busts of saints and angel figures. Due to uninterrupted use, their functionality has deteriorated and the deterioration of the wood has begun. In 2018 and 2019, the two remaining (there are four historic confessionals in total) were subjected to conservation treatment.

Completed works:
The project involved the conservation of two 18th-century confessionals, which are located in the side aisles of the Archcathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Latin Cathedral). The historic confessionals are objects in constant use and are therefore already badly damaged. They required conservation work to restore their artistic value, but also to strengthen the structure.

The work was part of a comprehensive conservation project carried out in Lviv Cathedral, aimed at preserving and protecting the historic furnishings of this valuable object of Polish culture in Lviv.

The works carried out included: an inventory of confessional elements; preliminary cleaning of the surface; introduction of fungicidal and mouldicidal agents; protection of technological layers; disassembly of structural elements; cleaning of the reverse of the elements; cleaning of the surface of organic contaminants, dirt and dust; strengthening the structure of the wood using a preparation which combats wood decay; bonding by gluing together cracked, disintegrated wooden elements of confessionals; repair of the structure of confessionals, including replacement of elements which do not meet structural parameters; repair of mechanical elements, i.e. locks, hinges, and replacement of parts which do not meet structural parameters. locks, hinges; replacement of electrical installation; removal of secondary layers of intervention. The result will be the full conservation of the confessionals, which are an example of Lvov carpentry and woodcarving craftsmanship of the late 18th century, in terms of their technical efficiency and the restoration of their artistic value.

Funding: Programme of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage "Protection of Cultural Heritage Abroad".

More about the project: https://polonika.pl

• Stowarzyszenie Oświaty i Kultury Polskiej, realizacja w roku 2020.