Model 1859 Portuguese army clothes backpack. Historical note, conservation and restoration treatment

Abstract

The model 1859 clothes backpack was used to carry soldier's spare clothing and necessaries. It was strictly made according to a pattern and was constructed in a box shape from leather and canvas, painted black on the exterior. An example of this model, which belongs to the Lisbon Military Museum collection (MML02048), was removed from the storage in 2016 in order to be inventoried. It was subsequently restored within the curricular unit “conservation and restoration project” of the Conservation and Restoration Bachelor so it could be placed on permanent exhibition. This object was likely used in campaign in Mozambique in 1894-95 by the bugler António Moura, taking part on the combat of Marracuene. Areas of deterioration, such as f laking paint and canvas losses, were caused mainly by storage conditions and improper care over the course of more than a century. The treatment was guided towards its ideal state, enhancing mostly historical and aesthetical values which were obtained through investigation.

Filling and retouching of losses in a Portuguese Army model 1859 clothes backpack

“…From these six backpacks, three of them made it to these days (the location of the remaining is unknown). One of them was recently studied within the curricular unit "Conservation and Restoration Project" of the Conservation and Restoration Bachelor (Fernandes, 2020), and the remaining two during the Master's thesis, both at the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar. These studies allowed to identify them as being the model 1859 clothes backpack, used by the Portuguese army.…”

“…It is made mostly from canvas and leather painted black on the exterior; the body hardware is made from an iron alloy, and the straps hardware is made from a copper alloy when the straps are white, and from an iron alloy when the straps are black. As with most military backpacks of the time, it was designed to carry spare clothing, necessaries, the overcoat and the mess kit (Anon., 1879 a;Aragão, 1886;M., 1894;Brak Lamy, 1897;Fernandes, 2020).…”

“…Regarding this model of backpack and the remaining equipment, besides one recent article (Fernandes, 2020), there are no known studies, and the only information available dates to the time these objects were still in use, and can be found on some journals publications (Anon., 1849;Salgado, 1849;Anon., 1850 a;Anon., 1850 b;Anon., 1856;Pimentel, 1860;Viana, 1861;Salgado, 1861;Soares, 1868;Aragão, 1886;Simões, 1891;Oliveira, 1893;M., 1894; G., 1909), oficial publications (Anon., 1879 a;Anon., 1882;Anon., 1888) and a published book (Brak Lamy, 1897).…”