Conservation treatment methodology

Contents ·_ _ _ __ Acknowledgements xiii Introduction xvii Section I Characterizing the Object 3 Introduction to section I 10 1 The characterization grid I4 Material vs. non-material aspects of the object I6 Object-specific vs. non-object-specific information Defining information relevant to the treatment 17 decision-making process 22 2 Quadrant I-The physical examination First impressions 23 \"Just looking\": the observant state of mind 27 The shift into making specific observations 29 Drawing conclusions Words matter 31 An observed examination 37 38 3 Quadrant II-The role of science in object characterization 42 43 Science and the interpretation of physical findings 46 The material aging graph 48 50 Overview of the material aging graph The vertical axis-material integrity V

Vl Contents • 1w ,w a-1r1 11w er1uwc-rsrnrrrmnumarHJfh%1Wi- The horizontal axis-the phases of aging and 52 their implications for intervention 59 Feller-graphing an object 4 Quadrant III-Non-material aspects of the object 65 Information to be gathered History of the object 67 The object's current value(s) 67 The object's intended future 68 Sources for non-material information 71 The custodian interview 72 Characterizing the custodian 72 Third-party stakeholders 74 Delivering information to the custodian 78 Dealing with the information received 81 Values and their relevance to treatment 84 Art value 86 Aesthetic value 89 Historical value 93 Use value 95 Research value 97 Educational value 102 Age value 104 Newness value 104 Sentimental value 108 Monetary value Associative value 109 Commemorative value 111 Rarity The relationship between value and the physical 112 state of an object 113 114 115 5 Quadrant IV-Lifetime of the cultural object 120 Stages in an object's life-an introduction Stages in an object's life-a detailed look 123 128

Contents Vll Creation and its myths 128 Original use and discard 134 Collecting: the role of-the collector in society 147 Critical thinking in the characterization 157 of objects 161 Values and the categorization of objects 162 163 Decorative arts, applied arts, and design 164 Primitive art/ethnography 165 Folk art 166 Sacred objects 166 Heritage 167 Heirlooms and souvenirs Systematics collections and specimens Section II Establishing the Goal of Treatment 171 Introduction to section II 173 6 The concept of the ideal state 174 Benefits of the concept of ideal state 176 A moment in time 178 The role of aesthetics and artist's intent 181 The custodian's role 182 Typical choices for the ideal state 182 When the ideal state is the original state 185 When the ideal state is the as-used state 186 When the ideal state is the current one 189 The ideal state as a process Choosing the ideal state to fit the needs of 190 the custodian 192 Revisiting condition 7 Values analysis, the timeline, and the ideal state 194 The timeline 195 Creating a timeline 197

Vlll Contents 201 The values history 202 Discussion of values history for the Revere teapot 205 Choice of ideal state using the timeline and current values list 207 Benefits of using the timeline and values history 212 Additional case studies: the use of a timeline and 212 values history to choose the ideal state 216 Egyptian sarcophagus with mummy: 217 age, educational and sentimental value 219 Values analysis 219 Ideal state 220 A fictional Van Gogh: art and associative value Current values list 226 Values analysis 226 Archaeological ancient glass: aesthetic and 227 age value Current values list 228 Values analysis 229 Thanksgiving linens: personal (use and 231 sentimental) values only Values analysis and ideal state Cultural vs. personal values 8 Determining the realistic goal of treatment 237 Steps in determining the realistic goal The time machine conundrum 239 How close is \"close enough\"? 241 Dealing with custodians and their expectations 243 Limitations on treatment 246 Extrinsic factors 249 Irreversible changes in original material 249 Concerns about the artist's hand 251 252

Contents IX Other factors in determining the realistic goal 255 of treatment 255 Truth vs. authenticity 257 Original material 258 Importance of the object 260 Age value and the goal of treatment When the attainable state is not 261 \"close enough\" 262 263 Psychological factors 265 What other people might think 266 Fear of the \"slippery slope\" The conservator's psyche 9 Preservation and the goal of treatment 270 Determining factors in preservation 273 Prospects for future care 273 Cultural vs. personal values 274 Attitudes toward preservation by the culture of origin or custodian 274 Deterioration phase as a determinant of preservation-related treatment 275 Levels of protection 278 Assessing the object's \"loads\" 279 Conflict between appearance/use and preservation 283 10 Traditional conservation concepts and 288 the methodology 289 294 The single standard 297 Treatment quality 298 Defining damage 300 Suitability and appropriateness Minimal intervention

X Contents 309 310 Section III Choosing a Treatment Introduction to section III 315 318 The role of science in conservation 319 11 Choice of treatment materials 321 Long-term chemical stability Standards of intended use and photochemical 323 stability for materials in conservation 326 Judging the suitability of Class B materials 328 Evaluating potential damage from non-Class-A 329 materials The need for information 331 Making choices 333 Same material or different? Matching the properties of the object's 336 materials 339 Handling properties of treatment materials 343 Manipulating the properties of treatment 345 materials 345 An example of material choice-fillers 347 A single material with multiple uses: Wax Sources for treatment materials 350 Industrial materials 353 Artists' and craft materials 353 359 12 Choice of treatment methods 360 361 Treatment criteria 363 Reversibility 363 Efficacy 366 Elegance Mental models as planning tool Assessing damage It's a balance Types of changes

Contents Xl Evaluating published information on 369 potential damage 374 The conservator's psyche Section IV Documentation and Treatment 379 Introduction to section IV 384 13 The purposes of treatment documentation 385 The conservator carrying out the treatment 388 The custodian Material culture specialists studying 389 the object Future conservators examining the object 390 or contemplating its re-treatment 392 Conservators studying the treatment 393 Conservation students and teachers The object and the society that benefits by 393 its continued existence and good health 394 The conservation profession as a whole 14 Creating treatment documentation 395 Treatment documentation for individual objects 397 Title 400 Object identification 400 Reason for treatment 402 Current state 403 Treatment goal(s) and rationale 405 Proposed treatment/treatment 407 Technical details 409 Recommendations for care 410 Estimated treatment time 411 Practical arrangements 412 What should not be in treatment reports 412

Xll Contents 412 413 Retention 414 Retrievability Laboratory master reports 418 15 Treating the object 424 Selected readings 427 Index