Innovation in Conservation Presentation

Well I have had a busy Tuesday last week. I started off the day cataloguing and then proceeding to spine labelling, before being swamped on the enquiry desk with 4 hours worth of enquiry retrievals. Then to top it all off, I had to make my way to King College University to attend Hugh Phibbs talk on "Innovation in conservation mounting and framing" before running to my Japanese class.

According to Mr. Phibbs, one of the most important forms of preservation is that of paper, because it forms the memory of the human species. In the 21st century, content is gradually becoming paper-less and preserved through digital means. However, this form of content has a finite shelf-life, whereas paper has infinite use when preserved in its original state. Therefore, there is a need for transparency in the ways in which paper can be preserved. 

The materials used in preservation are made of three things: cellulose (plant changed to paper), animal (vellum from calfskin) and synthetic materials. Hugh went on to describe a millennia of history in the ways in which items have been preserved and found in present day. 

• Salt - It doesn't oxidize and keeps out forms of biology thus preserving contents.
• Clay- Holds enough oxygen within it to preserve animals (e.g. bone and impression) in a fossil form.
• Sub-marine preservation in either alkaline or acidic water has kept sunken ships in great condition.
• Drying/ice preservation as a form of mummification (e.g. the mummy or mammoth).
• Volcanic ash - carbonized paper in a way that allows you to still read the imprint of text.

Therefore, no matter the environment, anything can be preserved. However, he states that book preservation is the best form of paper conservation, as he quotes Christopher Clarkson (a book conservator) "best of all is the book". A book that has a thick cover with metal clasps hinges put the paper inside under pressure and acts as a press to reduce distortion/deformity, limit light thus reducing paper discolouration, gives support on shelves and finally reduces the threat of mould on page edges. 

Quite simply modern materials do not last. For the best type of preservation optimal conditions need to be present, thus meaning little to no oxygen to preserve colorants and enforcing passive preservation in creating low-tech situations for complex problems. To do this efficiently, Hugh introduced a number of different options that should be used within preservation.

• Solander box
• Paper book mounts
• Hinged perimeter illustrations
• Folded paper edge support at one fold to allow constriction and contraction in different climates.
• Glazing to stop finger oil and speech spray being left on the item.
• Use of sorbent materials such as silica gel to keep cases dry or wet.

Before closing his presentation, Hugh mentioned the need to understand to role of infra-red or light in prematurely ageing paintings and making colours warp or fade within cases.

However, the most important thing I took away from this lecture in gaining more insight into the world of conservation for books and illustration is that all materials should be enclosed for maximum protection and not exposed.