Preservation Tips
for
Paintings and Prints
QUINE Lifestyle
Art & Antiques
by Dr. Lori
By Dr. Lori Verderame
People love their collections. No matter the type of object—
cookie jars, military memorabilia, fine art prints—collectors
want to add to a collection, display their assembled objects,
and enjoy learning more about their treasures. One of the
most important and interesting aspects of collecting is preserving
collectibles, albeit art or antiques, for the long term. Many
collections include family heirlooms or assembled collections
that will be handed down so preserving a collection is very
important. Here are some key points about how to protect,
preserve, and enjoy your collections.
ture and adhesives that are pH neutral
are recommended for framing
fragile works on paper. Some acid
free materials are made free of lignin, which can produce
acid and darken paper known as tanning or acid burning.
Some of the most critical damage that happens to art and
antiques happens when objects are stored. When you first
put them away in storage, everything is fine but over time,
change in temperature and humidity, and other affects
that occur when no one is looking will impact the condition
and value of an antique collection. Although it is little
known, significant damage can occur during storage. It is
important to store objects in archival boxes intended for a
certain type and size of collectible. Support is necessary for
fragile objects and storage containers like archival boxes
need to be constructed to stand the test of time. One size
does not fit all when it comes to storage.
Large paintings should be stored off the floor, preferably
hanging up. If there is no room for that storage solution,
then store large paintings standing upright. While it may
seem convenient, never lay paintings flat, face up under
a bed. Smaller paintings may be stored upright back to
back and face to face on separated shelves. Use acid free
foam core dividers to prevent the wire from the back of
Light is the real problem when it comes to preservation of
paintings and works on paper. UV protection using UV-filtered
or opaque materials are key to preventing fading
and light damage. One of the best ways to preserve fine
art is investing in quality framing. For an oil on canvas painting,
a frame will protect both the stretcher and the canvas
as well as give a finished look to the painting.
Unlike paintings which should not be framed under glass as
a general rule, prints require a different type of protection.
Prints and other works on paper like antique maps, historic
documents, etc. should be matted and framed under glass
using materials that are free of acid in order to protect the
paper. For acid free materials like mats and storage boxes,
a pH level of 7.0 or greater used at the time of manufac
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