Restored 15th century tomb unveiled

The mausoleum was in very bad condition, partly because of the sisters who were working in the chapel. Nico Blontrock, alderman for culture in Bruges: “They did it with good intentions, of course, but the sisters would not have thought it better to polish off the white salt stains with black shoe polish, and to say in Bruges, ‘that ferret’, and that was of course not a good thing.The letters on the side of the monument have literally been rubbed off that way.

(read more below the photo)

The restoration by an Antwerp company took a year and a half. A lot of time has gone into the coats of arms. Kim Raymakers, restorers Raymakers-Rossen: “Especially on certain sides. They have been completely plastically restored. We had many old photos. On the basis of that, we could see how the shape has been and we have remodeled it and polychromed it with new gold leaf .”

The restoration of the mausoleum will cost one hundred thousand euros. The tomb and chapel are still owned by the Adornes family.