Restoration of a Stone Lamp in Hyeon Hwa Temple

현화사지(玄花寺址) 석등(石燈) 복원처리(復元處理)

The Stone Lamp from Hyeon Hwa Temple is an important piece of buddhist art from the Koryo Dynasty (initiated by King Hyun-Joung). It provides an insight into stone-art techniques employed during the Koryo Dynasty, and serves as an authentic example of work from that period, which had both a refined style and artistic integrity. However, the stone lamp was dismantled and has been stored at the National Museum of Korea since 1986. This was because it was severely damaged, as a result of exposure to an outdoors environment. This article discusses the conservation of the stone lamp, which was carried out by conservators at the National Museum of Korea. It was prepared for a new display of the lamp to the public. The conservation process can be briefly described as follows: Cleaning (this includes the removal of previous repairs that were made), the re-attachment of the object's original fragments, and the gap-filling of missing parts. After its conservation, the object is in a much better condition and ready to be displayed once more. What is more important, in terms of the long term preservation of the stone lamp, is that the condition of the stone lamp needs to be continuously monitored, and appropriate conservation actions should be taken as necessary.

고려 현종 10년(1020)에 조성된 현화사지 석등은 풍화가 심해 1986년에 국립 중앙 박물관의 수장고에 해체 보관되어 왔다. 현화사지 석등은 고려시대 문화의 전성기에 나타나는 세련된 조형미와 아름다움을 잘 보여주는 예로, 일반에게 전시 공개하기 위하여 긴급 보존처리를 행하였다. 현화사지 석등은 보존처리는 이전처리에 사용되었던 재료의 제거, 탈락 부분의 접합, 결실 부분의 복원, 세척과 마감 채색의 순서로 처리 완료하였다. 현화사지 석등은 야외에 노출되어 전시되기 때문에 추후의 지속적인 보존과 관리가 필요하다.