blogs : conservation | general | photography projects : half a car park | memoryscapes | trees | friends | ART MACHINES | geometry | stroboscope archive | ask me | rss | flickr | mail | twitter | last.fmTumblr (3.0; @simonvarney)http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0gwfm6bVx1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Various japanese tissues in use for paper repairs in the conservation studio.</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18847066461http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18847066461Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0gwd37gIC1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><div><ol><li><em>“Pre-heat tacking iron: The adhesive in the tissue is activated by heat, so begin by setting the tacking iron at a temperature no greater than 250 F (120 C). Light will flash on the tacking iron when the temperature stabilizes.</em></li> <li><em>Prepare the area for treatment: Gently situate the broken area so that a minimal seam is visible. If an overlap of paper fibers is visible when the two edges are placed together, reposition the edges so that they match the direction of the tear.</em></li> <li><em>Superficial tack: After cutting a piece of heat-set tissue to accommodate the size of the tear, place the tissue section shiny side down (this is the acrylic adhesive side) over the tear seam. At this point, very lightly tap the tissue down to the paper with the tacking iron; this is simply to position the tissue upon the paper.</em></li> <li><em>Cover the heat-set tissue with a thin piece of paper, and heat press: Carefully press with the flat surface of the tacking iron. Hold down steadily for 10 seconds. If the heat-set tissue is not completely adhered, re-iron the area and re-examine. For longer tears and heavier paper stocks, treatment with heat-set tissue is recommended for both sides of the paper. By treating both sides, the repair will resist a “tenting” effect, which can lead to further paper damage and a re-tearing of the same area. If the area to be repaired runs out to the edge of the paper (as opposed to a cut in the center), allow for some excess tissue length, with can be trimmed off after heat setting with either scissors or an Exacto knife.”</em></li> </ol></div></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18847032613http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18847032613Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000conservation<a href="http://www.unesco.org.uk/">UK National Commission for UNESCO</a>: <p><span>The Commission is an independent civil society organisation which supports UNESCO’s work in the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, and communication.</span></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18800745686http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18800745686Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0gw9uWn2L1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><span>“Besides damage related to verdigris there are problems associated with old repairs made to the embrittled paper. These often poor repairs have resulted in distortions from using inappropriate repair papers and techniques (image). There are, as well, the typical problems one would expect to see in such an old book, distortion of text paper from binding, general cockling of paper, stains, foxing, dirt, grime, and small edge tears.”</span></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846988451http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846988451Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:30:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fle6IbcS1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Acid Migration</p> <p>“The inherent acidity of the wood, chemical processing, and additives such as rosin accelerated the breakdown of cellulose.  Many wood pulp based books and documents degraded to the extent that they literally fell apart.”</p> <p>- <a href="http://cool.conservation-us.org/waac/wn/wn30/wn30-3/wn30-305.pdf">The Deterioration of Newsprint and Implications for Its Preservation</a></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18806920526http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18806920526Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:30:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fl3fnfIX1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>“Laid paper is a type of paper having a ribbed texture imparted by the manufacturing process. In the 19th century its use diminished as it was largely supplanted by wove paper. Laid paper is still commonly used by artists as a support for charcoal drawings.”</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18806527424http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18806527424Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:30:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fl6uwuJu1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>“Wove paper is a writing paper with a uniform surface, not ribbed or watermarked. The papermaking mould’s wires run parallel to each other to produce laid paper, but they are woven together into a fine wire mesh for wove paper. The originator of this new papermaking technique was James Whatman (1702-59) from Kent, England.”</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18806652398http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18806652398Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:30:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0gv49st021qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Today we vaguely covered a few things that we may come accross in the conservation studio in the future, such as:</p> <p>Humidification chambers</p> <p>The Ultrasonic Humidifier</p> <p>And the method for making wheat paste…</p> <p>These processes all seemed to take a long time, especially manually stirring the saucier of wheat paste. Although constructing humidification chambers became a bit of an interesting game, when the reasonably sized containers had run out…</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846446777http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846446777Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0guosgVTW1qz7vdoo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Today we talked about European handmade papers, and how much we take paper for granted. The biggest surprise to me was that paper was originally made from rags, rather than trees, where the majority of modern paper comes from.</p> <p>If I ever get a chance, I should visit the largest second hand book shop in Europe in Rochester (pictured).</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846249663http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846249663Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000conservation<p><img align="middle" alt="Dard" height="474" src="http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/issue/201003/graphics/dard_library.jpg" width="390"/></p> <p>&#8220;To be classed as true paper the thin sheets must be made from fibre that has been macerated until each individual filament is a separate unit; the fibres intermixed with water, and by the use of a sieve-like screen, the fibres lifted from the water in the form of a thin stratum, the water draining through the small openings of the screen, leaving a sheet of matted fibre upon the screen&#8217;s surface. This thin layer of intertwined fibre is paper.&#8221;</p> <p>Dard Hunter</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18805688734http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18805688734Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0gw21SLKy1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Today we covered the basic techniques of paper surface cleaning before washing or other wet treatments.</p> <p>If these procedures are not carried out, the dirt may become ingrained in the fibres of the paper.</p> <p><em>“<span><span>Manuscripts, maps, book pages, and other documents may benefit from surface cleaning. Brittle newspapers, photographs, or fine art prints might be harmed by inexpert attempts to surface-clean them. Works of art in any media that are not firmly bound to paper, such as pastel, pencil, or charcoal, might be lifted or smeared by cleaning, and they usually cannot withstand surface cleaning at all. Examination of paints and thicker inks under magnification may reveal minute flaking not obvious to the naked eye, and artefacts with hand-applied coloring may be particularly vulnerable to optical changes or transfer of the color. Cleaning of all such delicate objects should be left to a professional conservator.”</span></span></em></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846883920http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846883920Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0gvc8vMQp1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><em>“<span>Diagrams and photography also support these notes. This is to make sure the condition of each individual object is documented thoroughly before any conservation and framing takes place. It is also important to document both the recto and verso of the piece.</span></em></p> <p><em>There can be conditions on how much conservation actually takes place. These conditions can be dictated by owners of collections and even by the piece itself. As an example an object that has lived its life being folded, the folds become a part of its history. They might need to be strengthened by adding support to prevent any damage and tearing happening in the future but flattening the object entirely may not be the best treatment for it. Just as with surface cleaning pieces with pencil marks on them, great care needs to go into the planning of conservation treatments, which also emphasises the importance of thorough documentation.”</em></p> <p><em><br/></em>This week we covered the importance of good documentation. Another thing which I had not envisaged when contemplating conservation in the past, which now seems like second nature.</p> <p>Drawing the diagrams becomes an art in itself, and it is great to see everyone’s own individual style of annotation.</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846547353http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846547353Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0gusexpWH1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><em>“Weathering, decay, and other damage to old manuscripts or inscriptions are often responsible for lacunae—words, sentences, or whole passages that are missing or illegible. Palimpsests are particularly vulnerable. To reconstruct the original text, the context must be considered. In papyrology and textual criticism this may lead to competing reconstructions and interpretations. Published texts that contain lacunae often mark the section where text is missing with a bracketed ellipsis. For example, “This sentence contains 20 words, and […] nouns,” or, “Finally, the army arrived at […] and made camp.”“</em></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846296370http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846296370Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0gufsSxNW1qz7vdoo1_r1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p><em>“The tattooed, shrunken head of a Maori warrior starts a long voyage home to New Zealand on Monday when France hands the mystic relic back more than a century after explorers took it away.”</em></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846143556http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18846143556Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:50:00 +0100conservation<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fhfbaGYK1qz7vdoo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Some more information regarding the Cochineal, form Wikipedia:</p> <p><em>“The insect produces carminic acid that deters predation by other insects. Carminic acid, which occurs as 17-24% of the weight of the dry insects, can be extracted from the insect’s body and eggs and mixed with aluminum or calcium salts to make carmine dye (also known as cochineal). Carmine is today primarily used as a food colouring and for cosmetics.</em></p> <p><em>The carmine dye was used in Central America in the 15th century for colouring fabrics and became an important export good during the colonial period. After synthetic pigments and dyes such as alizarin were invented in the late 19th century, natural-dye production gradually diminished. Health fears over artificial food additives, however, have renewed the popularity of cochineal dyes, and the increased demand has made cultivation of the insect profitable again, with Peru being the largest exporter. Some towns in the state of Oaxaca (in Mexico) are still working in hand-made textiles.”</em></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18802103055http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18802103055Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:11:00 +0100conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fh95LvZE1qz7vdoo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Today I attended a lecture about the red organic dyes used in old manuscripts and documents from the east and Arabic countries. Specifically Armenian manuscripts containing the Cochineal insect for the red pigment.</p> <p>The area where the Cochineal insect lives has greatly changed since the times the manuscripts were written (when the legs of cattle would literally be coloured red by the crushed females), and as such the insects are far from abundant. After finding some, research into how the pigment was formed could take place, and therefore allow for conservation of these documents be undertaken with a better understanding.</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18801927231http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18801927231Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0100conservation<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0fgs5NNfh1qz7vdoo1_400.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The list of tools I need to purchase is now extensive, and covers many thing I would never of had thought I’d need if left to my own devices. Pictured is what has been recommended as an organisation system, but I do not yet have any of the tools that have been suggested:</p> <ul><li>Spatula</li> <li>Crepe Eraser</li> <li>Rubber</li> <li>Set Square, Plastic</li> <li>Small handlens</li> <li>Linen tester</li> <li>Measuring Tape</li> <li>Tweezers</li> <li>White Cotton Gloves</li> <li>Tool Roll</li> <li>Rubbing Pen</li> <li>Water Pen</li> <li>Nitrile Gloves</li> <li>Teflon bone folder</li> <li>Pairing Knife</li> <li>Riling/mapping pen</li> <li>Scissors</li> <li>Various Scalpels</li> <li>Dividers</li> <li>Mars Plastic Eraser</li> <li>Multiple Spray Bottles</li> <li>Chinese flat brushes</li> <li>Mattress Needles</li> </ul><p>There are more items, as this list is not exhaustive, but it does give a good example of the things I must now acquire.</p> <p>Some good starting points:</p> <p>Tiranti Alec - www.tiranti.co.uk</p> <p>Stamp shop on the Strand - http://www.stanleygibbons.com/</p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18801431009http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18801431009Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0100conservation<a href="http://icom.museum/">ICOM - The International Council of Museums</a>: <p><ul><li>Natural and Cultural Heritage</li> <li>Ethics</li> <li>Free entry into museums if a member.</li> </ul></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18800593214http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18800593214Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0100conservation<a href="http://www.iccrom.org/">ICCROM International Council on Monuments and Sites</a>: <p><span>Created by UNESCO to promote conservation of monuments and sites of historical, artistic and archaeological interest.</span></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18800708667http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18800708667Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0100<a href="http://www.icomos.org/en/">ICOMOS International Council on Monuments and Sites</a>: <p><h3>ICOMOS is a non-governmental international organisation dedicated to the conservation of the world’s monuments and sites.</h3></p>http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18800660386http://www.simonvarney.co.uk/post/18800660386Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:00:00 +0100conservation