HEAS member Mathias Mehofer awarded a 3-year project grant on medieval metallurgy
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Congratulations to VIAS-HEAS Member Mathias MEHOFER on being awarded a standalone project titled “Bronze metallurgy during the Babenberg period, A – Medieval bronze casting in a Natural Science Context”.
Within this 3-year research project, an international, transdisciplinary team investigates the famous seven-branched medieval “Agnes” candelabrum from Klosterneuburg Abbey, donated around 1130 AD by Duke Leopold III of Babenberg and his wife Agnes. Standing 4.3 m high and composed of 57 decorated copper-alloy elements, the candelabrum is studied to reconstruct its object biography, including production techniques, material provenance, later modifications, and use within its ecclesiastical context. Combining humanities-based research with scientific methods such as pXRF, SEM-EDS, photogrammetry, X-ray tomography and isotope studies, the project examines alloy compositions, identifies modern restorations, and explores medieval exchange networks. Archival studies and comparative analyses with related objects further contextualize this exceptional work of medieval bronze art. Funding: The project is funded by the Province of Lower Austria (Land NÖ).
Project Homepage:
– MMag. W. C. Huber, Custos, Klosterneuburg Abbey, Austria
– M. Haltrich, Forschungsstelle, Klosterneuburg Abbey, Austria
– Dipl.-Restaurator C. Tinzl, DI Dr. techn. R. Linke, Dept. of conservation and restoration, Federal Monuments Authority Austria
– Prof. Dr. E. Pernicka, Curt Engelhorn Centre f. Archaeometry Mannheim
– PD Dr. Andreas Zajic, IMAFO, Austrian Academy of Sciences, FWF-project “PREMISIS”
– Dr. Fr. Kirchweger, Custos, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna