The staff of the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut removed broken glassware fragments from the fragments of the explosion in August 2020, provided by the Office of AUB Communications and Archaeological Museum

As Tefaf's annual museum restoration fund of 50,000 euros provides a grant of 25,000 euros, the British Museum will carefully restore eight ancient glass artifacts that were broken during a fatal explosion in Beirut Port on August 4, 2020.

Among the wreckage caused by a large-scale chemical explosion, 74 pieces of glass collapsed at the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut (AUB) located 4 kilometers west of the port. According to a press statement from the British Museum, dating back to the Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods, most ships were “broken beyond repair” and only 15 were “determined as salvageable”.

Led by Claire Cuyaubère, a conservator of the French National Institute of Cultural Heritage, the staff of the Archaeological Museum removed hundreds of fragments from the fragments of the showcase and surrounding windows. Cuyaubère returned to Beirut this month to carry out a "puzzle work" of matching pieces with the support of the Friends of the British Museum's East-Central. She has identified eight ships that are strong enough to transport them in stages to the conservation laboratory of the London institution.

Before the explosion, the glassware glass cabinets of the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut were provided by the Office of the AUB Communication and Archaeological Museum

The restoration of artifacts attests to the development of Lebanese glass blowing technology in the first century AD, including four rare bowls, a perfume bottle and a beaker from the Roman Empire (first to third centuries); a Byzantine kettle (fifth century); and An elite Islamic glossy flask (seventh to ninth century) decorated with silver and copper paint, probably imported from Syria or Egypt.

"The British Museum needs about four months of intensive work to repair these eight ships," a spokesperson said, citing the protection team's expertise in Roman glass. "The fragments of the container will be glued together very carefully with a protective grade adhesive. The parts are gradually built up until the wreckage of the ship becomes one."

Conservator Claire Cuyaubère conducts a "puzzle work" at the AUB Archaeological Museum, matching hundreds of fragments from broken glass plates provided by the Office of AUB Communications and Archaeological Museum

After restoration, these items will be temporarily exhibited in the British Museum before returning to their homes. At the same time, seven ships deemed too fragile to leave Beirut will continue to be stored "until the AUB Museum has the resources and skills to cooperate with international support for conservation," he said.

The British Museum promised to assist colleagues in Beirut immediately after the explosion. Its curator Hartwig Fisher said that it is now “I am very pleased to be able to provide expertise and resources... to repair these important ancient objects so that they can be enjoyed in Lebanon. For many years".

Hidde van Seggelen, Chairman of Tefaf, stated that the show is proud to support restoration work through its grant program, describing it as a “powerful symbol of recovery and resilience after a disaster”.