Technical approach and curative conservation and restoration processes of a papier machê giant: “La Turca” from the Corpus de Xàtiva

The festive culture encompasses different representations that enrich the collective imagination as elements of heritage identity reinforcement. Giants and big heads are a statement such folkloric richness, symbolically linked to tradition immaterial connotation. This article contextualizes, historically ichnographically, one papier mâché giants from Corpus Christi festival in Valencian city Xàtiva. technical, material physiognomic examination sculpture, popularly known “La Turca”, served preliminary study determine its state conservation. As element used processions, this sculpture exhibited significant structural dimensional problems, well previous intrusive interventions, especially polychrome areas, repeatedly applied with purpose recover work’s appearance. Finally, based on examinations, curative conservation restoration treatments were performed, aimed at most relevant deteriorations.