Solo Exhibition Robert Baines

Endtecker represents Baines' research position as a goldsmith, artist and archaeometallurgist, as he analyses goldsmithing techniques from antiquity, demonstrates amazing craftsmanship in replicating these and contextualises his research to create new contemporary pieces of ornament in the 21st century.

This exhibition, shown in the galleries of ancient Greek and Etruscan gold jewellery was without precedent in showing a living artist researcher in one of the foremost antiquities museums. It brought together three period of intensive research undertaken as part of Senior Research Fellowships at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY), (1996 Senior Fulbright Award; 1998 and 2002 Andrew Mellon Conservation Fellowships). The research saw Baines, a practical goldsmith investigate the MMOA collections from an archaeometallurgy perspective using scientific methods to better understand how ancient craftsmen had worked and the materials they had used. This threw new light not only on their work but on the cultural context of historical locations.

In researching jewellery from antiquity Baines studies works at the microscopic level, identifying composition as well with a scanning electron microscope, photography and qualitative analysis of surface and sub-surface. He has adapted what he has found from past masters into his own works giving a contemporary interpretation of antique jewellery forms and materiality.

Dr Joan Mertens, curator,Greek and Roman Department, Metropolitan Museum, New York,"To my knowledge, Mr Baines is the only person who is focussing specifically on the process of construction of ancient jewellery and the degree to which technical factors determine the appearance of the finished object."

恩特克（Endtecker）彰显了贝恩斯作为金匠、艺术家与考古冶金学家（archaeometallurgist）的研究定位：他剖析古典时代的金工技艺，以精湛工艺复刻此类技法，并结合研究语境创作21世纪全新当代装饰作品。
本次展览设于古希腊与伊特鲁里亚（Etruscan）金饰展厅，是该顶尖古物博物馆首次展出在世艺术家研究者的相关创作。展览汇集了贝恩斯在纽约大都会艺术博物馆（The Metropolitan Museum of Art）担任资深研究员期间开展的三项密集研究项目——其研究曾获1996年资深富布赖特奖（Senior Fulbright Award）、1998年与2002年安德鲁·梅隆保护奖学金（Andrew Mellon Conservation Fellowships）。作为一名实操金匠，贝恩斯以考古冶金学视角，借助科学方法对MMOA馆藏展开研究，以期更深入地理解古代工匠的劳作方式与所用材料。此项研究不仅为古代工匠的创作提供了全新阐释，也为相关历史遗址的文化语境带来了新的认知。
在研究古典珠宝时，贝恩斯会借助扫描电子显微镜（scanning electron microscope）、摄影技术以及表面与亚表层定性分析等手段，在微观层面开展研究并确定其成分构成。他将从古代大师作品中发掘的技法融入自身创作，对古典珠宝的形制与材质特性做出当代化的诠释。
纽约大都会艺术博物馆希腊与罗马分馆馆长琼·默滕斯（Joan Mertens）博士评价道：“据我所知，贝恩斯是唯一一位专门聚焦古代珠宝制作工艺，以及技术因素对成品外观影响程度的研究者。”