he Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art and the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation (WUDPAC) have formed a multiyear partnership to conserve the significant architectural features in the Syrian Room. This project resumes the highly successful collaboration between the DDFIA and WUDPAC to conserve Shangri La’s Damascus Room.
In Phase 1 of the Syrian Room project, two graduate students from WUDPAC, LeeAnn Barnes and Kirsten Travers, supervised by Associate Professor Mary McGinn, spent eight weeks during the summer of 2009 assessing, documenting and treating the main ceiling. The most prominent, unstable condition issues found on the ceiling were flaking and loss of the decorative surfaces. Conservation efforts have greatly improved the integrity, stability and appearance of the ceiling.
Phase II was completed in the summer of 2010 with Shangri La hosting two additional WUDPAC interns for the summer.
MORE ABOUT THE SYRIAN ROOM