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A Peek into Paper Conservation
Stephanie Porto Niagara Art Conservation
What is Art Conservation?
Image courtesy of Julie Heath & Ann Creager, Lunder Conservation Center.
A Peek into Paper Conservation Stephanie Porto Niagara Art - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
A Peek into Paper Conservation Stephanie Porto Niagara Art - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
A Peek into Paper Conservation Stephanie Porto Niagara Art Conservation What is Art Conservation? Image courtesy of Julie Heath & Ann Creager, Lunder Conservation Center. Damage to Cultural Property Photos courtesy of Samantha Springer (top
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Photos courtesy of Samantha Springer (top left), the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (lower right), and the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation.
Damage to Cultural Property
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Photos courtesy of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. Lower left and right photos by Lazlo Bodo.
What do conservators do?
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Code of Ethics
Photo courtesy of Corine Norman.
Surface cleaning an Andy Warhol print
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Six Primary Activities of Conservation:
- Examination
- Documentation
- Treatment
- Preventive Care
- Research
- Education
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Oman.
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- Examination
- Documentation
- Treatment
- Preventive Care
- Research
- Education
Photo courtesy of the Art Conservation Department, Buffalo State College.
Six Primary Activities of Conservation:
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Looking at Paper:
Transmitted Light
Laid paper Wove paper
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Watermarks
- chiaroscuro
Transmitted light Raking light
- J. WHATMAN
TURKEY MILL 1850
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Looking at Paper:
Raking and Specular Light
Verso, raking light Recto, oblique specular light
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Looking at Paper:
Ultraviolet Radiation
Restoration in the sitter’s face absorbs UVA and appears dark Slight yellow fluorescence under the arch indicates zinc white retouching
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Looking at Paper:
Infrared Radiation
IR Vidicon camera used to visualize a partially hidden inscription
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- Examination
- Documentation
- Treatment
- Preventive Care
- Research
- Education
Photo courtesy of Julie Heath & Ann Creager, Lunder Conservation Center, Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery.
Six Primary Activities of Conservation:
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- Examination
- Documentation
- Treatment
- Preventive Care
- Research
- Education
Photo courtesy of Anya Shutov.
Six Primary Activities of Conservation:
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- Consolidation
- Surface cleaning
- Backing removal
- Washing
- Lining
- Compensation
for loss
Common Interventions
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- Consolidation
- Surface cleaning
- Backing removal
- Washing
- Lining
- Compensation
for loss
Common Interventions
Re-adhereing flaking gelatin emulsion on a photograph
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Consolidation
Gelatin applied by both ultrasonic mist and brush Acrylic adhesive applied by brush and set with heat
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- Consolidation
- Surface cleaning
- Backing removal
- Washing
- Lining
- Compensation
for loss
Common Interventions
Grated vinyl eraser crumbs used to gently and evenly remove surface dirt
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Surface Cleaning / Varnish Removal
Unwashed support prone to tidelines
Surface grime reduced by swabbing with distilled water; varnish reduced by swabbing with ethanol
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- Consolidation
- Surface cleaning
- Backing removal
- Washing
- Lining
- Compensation
for loss
Common Interventions
Removing an acidic corrugated cardboard backing that was adhered overall to a large drawing
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Facing
Unwashed support prone to tidelines
Carbopol and Ethomeen mixed with ehtanol, applied over Japanese tissue
Japanese tissue adhered to stabilize torn and fragmented areas during treatment
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Backing removal
Two textile backings removed by tearing away in strips
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- Consolidation
- Surface cleaning
- Backing removal
- Washing
- Lining
- Compensation
for loss
Common Interventions
Immersion washing an etching
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Localized washing and stain reduction
Localized suction treatment of banded discoloration (left) and tape stains (right).
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- Consolidation
- Surface cleaning
- Backing removal
- Washing
- Lining
- Compensation
for loss
Common Interventions
Wet paste lining performed to stabilize a drawing previously backed with corrugated cardboard
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Consolidating flaking media Reinforcing holes caused by corrosive pigments
Stabilization
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Restoration
Japanese woodblock print before treatment (left), after overall bleaching (centre), and after spot bleaching.
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- Consolidation
- Surface cleaning
- Backing removal
- Washing
- Lining
- Compensation
for loss
Common Interventions
During treatment After treatment
Inpainting pulp fills to restore lost image
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Loss Compensation
Before compensation Losses toned with dry pigment and pastel media Map of the City of Buffalo (detail) Hand-coloured lithograph 1833
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Fine Art vs. Archival Material
Untitled Norval Morrisseau Acrylic on paper 1969 Sympathy certificate for widow
- f Burr Plato
Gelatin silver photograph 1909
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- Examination
- Documentation
- Treatment
- Preventive Care
- Research
- Education
Photo courtesy of Anya McDavis-Conway.
Conservator measuring light levels
Six Primary Activities of Conservation:
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Preventive Conservation Includes:
- Proper handling
- Packing and transport
- Housing/storage
- Monitoring the environment
- Conducting surveys and assessments
- Preparing for emergencies
- Guidelines for use of artifact or collection
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- Examination
- Documentation
- Treatment
- Preventive Care
- Research
- Education
Photo courtesy of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation.
Six Primary Activities of Conservation:
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- Examination
- Documentation
- Treatment
- Preventive Care
- Research
- Education
Photo courtesy of Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. Photo by Joyce Hill Stoner.
Six Primary Activities of Conservation:
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Rotary Club Charter – Before treatment
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Rotary Club Charter – Before treatment
Raking light
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- 1. Surface clean
- 2. Wash
- 3. (Locally bleach)
- 4. Disinfect mold
- 5. Humidify / flatten
- 6. Attach hinges
Treatment Plan
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- 1. Surface clean
- 2. Wash
- 3. (Locally bleach)
- 4. Disinfect mold
- 5. Humidify / flatten
- 6. Attach hinges
Treatment Plan
Removing dried mold structures using a HEPA filtered vacuum
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Removing surface dirt using grated vinyl eraser crumbs
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- 1. Surface clean
- 2. Wash
- 3. (Locally bleach)
- 4. Disinfect mold
- 5. Humidify / flatten
- 6. Attach hinges
Treatment Plan
Immersion washing in pH balanced water
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Before treatment After washing
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After washing After ACD treatment
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- 1. Surface clean
- 2. Wash
- 3. Locally bleach
- 4. Disinfect mold
- 5. Humidify / flatten
- 6. Attach hinges
Treatment Plan
Reducing bleach brushed onto distracting tideline stain
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After ACD treatment After local bleach
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- 1. Surface clean
- 2. Wash
- 3. Locally bleach
- 4. Disinfect mold
- 5. Humidify / flatten
- 6. Attach hinges
Treatment Plan
Mold damaged areas treated with a water and ethanol solution on the suction table
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- 1. Surface clean
- 2. Wash
- 3. Locally bleach
- 4. Disinfect mold
- 5. Humidify / flatten
- 6. Attach hinges
Treatment Plan
Creases burnished flat on the suction table
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- 1. Surface clean
- 2. Wash
- 3. Locally bleach
- 4. Disinfect mold
- 5. Humidify / flatten
- 6. Attach hinges
Treatment Plan
Japanese paper hinges attached to facilitate matting and framing
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Before treatment After treatment
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Before treatment After treatment
Raking light
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Acknowledgements
- Many thanks to the private collectors and institutions
whose artifacts were entrusted to my care and appear in this presentation. They include the Metropolitan Museum
- f Art, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Niagara
Falls History Museum, and Niagara Historical Society.
- Thank you also to The American Institute for