Art Conservation Guides

A. General Problems

• Missing parts of the medium, smudges, broken or turn surface
• Stains of food, cosmetics, smoke, fingerprints, dust, household chemicals used for cleaning
• Presence of direct light, excessive heat and humidity
• Pest infested room and poor storage

B. Moving

• Decide about the destination of the work before moving it.
• Get additional help if the art work is of larger size.
• Always wear gloves before handling the painting.
• Be careful while moving other things while you are near the paintings. The things may scratch the surface of the medium.
• Don't keep the art works in narrow and congested space.
• Be sure that the painting is properly packed using quality material.
• Don't leave the art works packed for long period.

C. Displaying

D. Cleaning

• Use soft brush to remove dust. Be careful that you should not use duster or feather because their fibers may attach to the surface of the canvas.
• Don't attempt to dust the surface if it is broken, damaged or flaking.
• Don't attempt to repair the damage yourself because it may be further damaged. Only the qualified conservators can carry out the repairing task successfully.

E. Framing

• Generally the stretcher that supports the canvas is of squire or rectangular shape. The stretcher should have centre support as well if the canvas is of larger size.
• Be sure about the reliability of the frame material. Nowadays fiber frames are available in the market, which appear like wooden ones. But they may not be as strong as wooden frames. But fiber frames may be safer because they are not attacked by the pests.

F. Storage

• Select cool, dry and ventilated space for storage.
• The frequent fluctuation of temperature and humidity should be minimized so that the environment remains stable. The art work sustains for longer period in stable environment.

Pests

• Ensure that the store room is free of pests like cockroaches, beetles, moths, worms and rats.
• Don't keep food in the place where paintings are stored. The food attracts the pests.
• Inspect the packed paintings to protect from pests, humidity and heat.

G. Packing Materials

The materials that are used to pack paintings for storage may affect the durability of the works. You are advised to use inert materials for packing because they do not deteriorate for longer period of time. Wrap the paintings on canvas in unbleached muslin instead of plastic, for such muslin allows the painting to breathe. While packing storing the art works, ensure that both physical damage and exposure to fluctuations of temperature and humidity are minimized.

H. What Causes Damage?

• Fire or excessive heat
• Dampness, excessive moisture and leaking water in storage space
• Direct physical force can result into smudges and tears
• Smoke, pollutants and other contaminants
• Radiation from direct sunlight, ultraviolet rays and infra-red light waves
• Insects and other pests
• Negligence while handling, packing and storing

A. What causes of damage?

As ceramic sculptures are not readily subject to variations in the environment like paper and canvas, they are generally stable. But gilded, painted and glazed surface of ceramic can be unstable. As a result, they can react to environmental fluctuations, and can lead to a number of tiny cracks in their surface. As they are made of brittle material, they can be easily broken. They are usually broken while being transported in inadequate packing, washed, dropped during cleaning and sometimes, blown over by the strong wind. However, to avoid such damages, a number preventive measures can be applied.

B. Handling

• You should handle ceramic as little as possible.
• You are advised to use latex gloves while moving the ceramic. Do not use cotton gloves while handling the artworks, for they can easily slip and break. Do not use bare hands as the moisture, oil and acid in the hands can leave stains on the surface of the art works.
• Transport ceramic in heavily padded containers

C. Cleaning

Use soft brush to clean the dust and dirt on ceramic objects. Do not use cotton, wool or cloth because it can catch on rough surfaces of the object leaving their fibers behind which may cause damage on the surface.

A. Environmental Decay

Environmental decay is frequently found on the exterior surfaces of stone sculptures. It is the result of harsh weather condition, pollutants, erosion, the crystallization of salts on the sculpture surface, and repeated wetting and drying. As the decay is not easily controlled and difficult to reverse, it should be prevented through regular checks and observation.

B. Mechanical Decay

Stones of lower quality and changes in other materials used along with the stone or in its installation results into mechanical decay.

C. Applied Decay

Damage may be caused due to vandalism, inappropriate installation, poor transportation and repair.

The surface of most of the outdoor stone sculptures is covered with dirt and dust. Sheltered undersides of the carved stones suffer from the accumulation of a black crust. It is usually stable and sometimes functions as a protective layer despite the fact that this may lead to decay. It is not necessary to clean the surface of carved stones regularly, for the action of cleaning can lead to faster deterioration and distortion, particularly to sandstones, by opening the pores of the stones. The repeated handling and touching of stone sculptures can also lead to the formation of stains from the oils and moisture present in skin. Cleaning should be carried out by a skilled professional conservator using gentle means such as bristle brushes and water only if it is absolutely necessary. Chemicals and detergents should not be used at all costs.