Conservation Flashcards
What is Conservation
Conservation is the preservation of artworks, involving a number of considerations that will protect and prevent damage to artworks.
Any method that keeps artworks as close to the original condition for as long as possible.
Preventing damage
- controlling the environments in which they are presented/displayed, stored and transported
- environmental factors: light, temp, relative humidity (RH), dust accumulation, insect activity, poor storage and display materials, incorrect handling.
Materials
Organic:
- paper
- leather
- wool
- feathers
Inorganic:
- stone
- cement
- ceramic
- metals
Effort of conservation
Depends on:
- significance of work
- value of work
- resources available to conserve the work
Public = more funding so considerable effort + looking after work on behalf of the public
follow international conservation guidelines
Handling and checking
Includes:
- using gloves (nitrile) when hanging works on paper
- creating adequate viewing space b/w works
- paying attention to light levels
- keeping storage and display areas clear of dust and toxic materials
- being aware of security issues
- curator checking regularly for movement/ damage/ dust/ any changes to the work
- condition report when a work = travelling b/w places
Light
- damage done by light is irreversible and cumulative
- causes colours to fade, paper to discolour and become embrittled
- textiles and paper = 50lux
MINIMISATION:
- eliminating direct sunlight/UV light (no windows)
- rotating objects on display b/w display and storage
- using tungsten bulbs
Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH)
- directly related to eachother
- using thermohygrometer
- 20C +- 2C (22-18*C)
- 50% RH +- 5% (55-45%RH)
- causes expansion or contraction of particular materials –> cracking, tears, cleavage, flaking, embrittlement
- mould, bacteria, fungi growth
- breakdown of materials
Mould
- fungi that live on almost any material tat can offer moisture and organic nutrients (eg: coil-based paints, wood, paper, textiles, leather, etc)
- occur naturally and grow in conditions where RH is above 70%, darkness and poor ventilation
- prevention = control environmental conditions in display and storage areas so that RH remains below 70% and to keep display and storage areas clean and well ventilated.
- breakdown of the physical structures of a work of art (paper = soft and spongey and liable to disintegrate)
- can cause surface straining which is irreversible
Atmospheric pollutants and dust (conservation)
- major cause of deterioration
- CO2, Nitrous oxides
ozone, particulate matter (dust and soot), cigarette smoke - causes corrosion (eg: metals)
- acid damage (eg stone)
- straining and soiling (eg: paper)
- chemical reaction (eg: tarnishing of silvers/ blackening of lead-based pigments)
- physical breakdown (eg: textiles)
- display cases for objects, frames and glazing provides protection from airborne dust and other atmospheric pollutants.
Insects
- feed on objects made of organic materials (textiles, wool, cotton, linen, silk, paper, photographs, wood, leather)
- droppings = unsightly and can stain/ eat into suraface b/c acidic
- placed into special plastic bag, oxygen removed and replaced with nitrogen, temp at below freezing -20oC, period of 2 weeks.
Pests
- mice, rats, other rodents, silver fish
- capable of gnawing or soiling any work of art
- attracted to dark, cluttered, undisturbed areas
- cleanliness and traps used to prevent
Storage areas (conservation)
- RH, temperature and air purity controlled, kept in the dark
- not stored on the floor in case of disaster (eg flooding),
ease of access and regularly monitored - 1:3 viewing time to storage time
- materials used for storage may come into contact with works of art and must not contribute to their deterioration.
Transportation
- some are never loaned to other intitutions for exhibition b/c so fragile
- appropriate packing system is designed
- condition reports
