A group of distinguished experts and scholars introduce and discuss aspects of the rediscovery, preservation, and presentation of ancient Near Eastern glazed brick facades between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. Speakers include Negar Abdali (University of Heidelberg), Noemi Dauce (Louvre, Abu Dhabi), Alireza Khounani (New York University), Sonja Radujkovic (Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin), Stefan Simon (Rathgen Research Laboratory, Berlin), and May-Sarah Zessin (Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin). The program concludes with a hands-on practice session on blue materials provided by Kremer Pigments.

Program:

9:05 Welcome and Introduction, Alexander Nagel (State University of New York, FIT)

9:15 Caring for Babylon Blues in Berlin: Aspects of Conservation on the Ishtar Gate (Sonja Radujkovic, Vorderasiatisches Museum; Stefan Simon, Rathgen Research Laboratory, Berlin)

9:45 Blues for the Palace: Reflections on Achaemenid Persian Glazed Brick Décor at Susa (Noemi Dauce, Louvre, Abu Dhabi)

10:15 COFFEE BREAK & SUNY FIT Student Posters on Achaemenid Glazed Brick Decor

10:25 Copper Processing Technologies in the Achaemenid Empire (c. 520-330 BCE) (Alireza Khounani, Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University)

10:55 Achaemenid Glazed Brick Decoration at Babylon: New Work on Fitters’ Marks (May-Sarah Zessin, Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin)

11:25 Comparing Glaze Technologies at Susa and Persepolis: Results from Petrochemical Analysis (Negar Abdali, University of Heidelberg)

12:00 Creating Blue Glaze. A Workshop with Roger Carmona (Kremer Pigments Inc., 247 West 29th Street, only 3-minute walk from FIT)