A noteworthy number of silver artifacts of secular use, are situated in churches and monasteries, in the city of Ioannina, such as the broader area of the Prefecture of Ioannina. Silver-working in Epirus reached great heights from the late 17th to the early 19th Century. Silver craftsmen travelled around, covering the geographical section of the presentday Epirus and Albania. Unfortunately, in the last decades may churches in villages were robbed. As a result most of the silver artifacts were lost. An other problem is that of the restoration of these objects
In this programme our aim: is a) to make catalogues of the silver secular artifacts coming from churches of the city of Ioannina and from the whole prefecture. We want to employ archaeologists and art historians in order to record accurately and digitize the artifacts, b) to achieve the preservation of a great number of assets. Restorers are suggested to be employed for that purpose. c) to publish a guide of silver artifacts from Ioannina. Through teh employment of restorers, in the frame of the programme, we want to achieve the preservation of a great number of assets.
This schedule aims to
a) the documentation of secular silver artifacts, in order to create data bases, with long-term aim to cope with illicit dealing in antiquities
b) restore secular silver artifacts and preserve cultural heritage of local communities
c) demonstrate the relationship between the two countries.
In the frame of the programme the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina wants to focus on documentation and the restoration of secular silver artifacts.
