author
Friedrich Rathgen
1862–1942
A pioneering German chemist, he helped turn the care of archaeological objects into a scientific discipline. His work at Berlin’s museums and his practical handbook for curators left a lasting mark on conservation science.
1 Audiobook
The preservation of antiquities : a handbook for curators
by Friedrich Rathgen
About the author
Born in Eckernförde on June 2, 1862, Friedrich Wilhelm Rathgen studied natural sciences at the University of Göttingen. He is widely remembered as one of the founders of conservation science, the field that applies scientific methods to the care and preservation of cultural objects.
In 1888, he became the first chemist employed by the Royal Museums in Berlin, where he led what is often described as the first museum laboratory of its kind. That role placed him at the center of early efforts to bring chemistry into the study and preservation of antiquities.
Rathgen also wrote influential practical guides, including The Preservation of Antiquities: A Handbook for Curators, which helped share his methods beyond Germany. He died in Berlin on November 19, 1942, and the Rathgen Research Laboratory in Berlin still carries his name.