Author: Ryan Winfield

Using IR and UV to examine papyri at the Brooklyn Museum

Conservators at the Brooklyn Museum are regular contributors to the museum’s blog. The most recent entry, by Pavlos Kapetanakis, project conservator of paper working on the Egyptian Book of the Dead of the Goldworker of Amun, Sobekmose, desribes how IR and UV light aid in examination and treatment.

Excerpt:

We typically use traditional photography to record images of artifacts in the visible light spectrum; this way we record on a digital file that which the human eye can see (fig.1). However, this technique can provide only a limited amount of information, since the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is a very small portion (400-700nm) of the entire spectrum. By eliminating the visible light using barrier filters, we are able to record images that the unaided human eye could not detect. Generally, we record images in the near infrared (700 to 900 nm) as well as the ultraviolet ranges (200- 400nm).

Link to the blog by clicking here.

Summer Work Project at Shelburne Museum

The Shelburne Museum is offering one summer work project in the conservation treatment of polychrome sculpture. The project will either be eight weeks or eleven weeks in duration. The intern will document and treat a carousel horse made by the Gustav Dentzel factory in 1902 over the course of eight weeks. As an optional three week extension, the intern will document and treat a rounding board from the carousel. Each project has been chosen by donors to Shelburne Museum’s Adopt a Carousel Animal Program. The animals are made of carved wood embellished with brass and glass ornaments. The rounding board is a painted flat wood panel. Past treatments of animals from the same carousel have involved removal of maintenance linseed oil coatings from the wood, metal, and glass surfaces and fabricating missing ornaments or portions of ornaments. More information on the history of the carousel and the project can be found in an article by Richard Kerschner and Nancie Ravenel, “Here We Go ‘Round Again: Cleaning Linseed Oil from Carousel Animals at Shelburne Museum” in JAIC 45 (2006): 201-210,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelburnemuseum/collections/72157623324796009/

and

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Shelburne-VT/Shelburne-Museums-Dentzel-Carousel/111828795508

This project would be appropriate for a graduate level student or an advanced undergraduate level student. In return for undertaking this challenging internship nestled between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, we will provide a stipend of $1750 for eight weeks (June 6-August 1, 2011) or $2500 for eleven weeks (June 6-August 22, 2011) and a private room in a house shared with other museum interns. Interested individuals should send a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references, only two of which may be from academia, to Nancie Ravenel at nravenel@shelburnemuseum.org by January 17, 2011. Applicants should indicate whether the eight week or eleven week option is of interest.

Nancie Ravenel
Objects Conservator
Shelburne Museum
5555 Shelburne Rd.
Shelburne, VT 05482
802-985-3348 x3354
www.shelburnemuseum.org

Book Thefts from the National Archives, UK

The National Archives have recently discovered that two early printed books appear to have been stolen from their library. In both cases the text block has been cut or pulled out of the binding and removed, leaving the empty binding on the shelf. It is thought that someone might try to get them rebound before selling them, or that someone could purchase them in the condition they are in and then seek to get them bound.

The books are:?

? LEAKE, Stephen Martin?Nummi britannici historia or, An historical account of English money, from the conquest to the uniting of the two kingdoms by King James I. and of Great Britain to the present time. With particular descriptions of each piece, and illustrated cuts of the more antient. A work hitherto unattempted … Particularly calculated for the benefit of the curious collector of English coin. ?London , W. Meadows, 1726??

PETTUS, Sir John 1613-1690, ?Fodinæ regales or, The history, laws and places of the chief mines and mineral works in England, Wales, and the English Pale in Ireland ; as also of the mint and mony, with a clavis explaining some difficult words relating to mines, &c. ?London, Printed by H.L. & R.B. for Thomas Basset

If there is any further help or advice anyone can provide please contact: ?Helen Pye-Smith?Head of Business Support and Library Services ?Tel: +44 (0)20 8392 5278?The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU ??

source: ICON Interconnect, Nov. 2010

The July 2010 experts meeting on the Ghent Altarpiece

In July 2010, a committee of experts led by Anne van Grevenstein-Kruse and Ron Spronk met in St. Bavo Catheral in Ghent, Belgium to assess the physical condition of the work of art sometimes called “The Adoration of the Lamb” but most commonly known as the Ghent Altarpiece. Peter Schjeldahl was one of the reporters who was permitted to observe the meeting. In the November 29, 2010 issue of The New Yorker in his article “The Flip Side”, he provides a report of that meeting. More than that, he provides an amazing description of the physical nature of the work and how it was created, discusses the provenance of the piece and the problems of old restorations, and writes what amounts to a mini-profile of George Bisacca’s work with panel paintings including Albrecht Durer’s “Adam” and “Eve”. The return of those same two paintings to view in the Prado after their two-year restoration is noted in the November 27, 2010 issue of The New York Times.

10 Tips for Becoming a Conservator

Tip #2: Join professional organizations

The purpose of a professional organization is to uphold standards of practice, and to provide educational and networking opportunities to its members. Most organizations charge for membership, but as a student you can usually pay a reduced fee, and it is well worth it for the benefits that you receive in return.

The largest organization for conservation in the United States is the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works . AIC publishes the Code of Ethics and Guidelines of Practice that all practicing conservators in the U.S. adhere to. Once you become a member, you will receive a directory of all members, a newsletter six times per year, and access to all of the online resources that AIC has to offer. Student membership is $65 for the calendar year, not including specialty groups.

Your local conservation guild is another group to take advantage of. Besides holding meetings, workshops and lectures, guilds tend to organize many tours and social events throughout the year—offering a great opportunity to meet other conservators. Fellow guild members can answer your general conservation questions, and relationships with other conservators will prove useful in the future when you’re looking for a job or when you’re in need of collaboration on a project. Regional organizations are listed on the website for the Conservators in Private Practice Specialty Group of AIC. Membership can range anywhere from $5 to $35 for students.

There are, of course, many more organizations on the international level, but I suggest starting locally so you don’t get too overwhelmed with newsletters and emails at first! Here’s a short list of conservation and related groups if you want to see what they have to offer:

International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works

International Council of Museums Committee for Conservation

International Network for the Conservation of Contemporary Art

Canadian Conservation Institute

The Institute of Conservation

International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property

American Association of Museums

College Art Association

Conservation leads to numerous discoveries regarding painter Jan Gossart

The detailed examination during conservation treatment of several Jan Gossart paintings, in preparation for a major exhibition featuring the artist, leads to several discoveries about the paintings, the artist’s technique, and corrects the attribution of a panel that had once been attributed to Gossart’s workshop, to that of the artist himself.

This YouTube video features conservators Karen Thomas and Michael Gallagher.

October Meeting Minutes

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ECPN MEETING MINUTES

October 21, 2010

Conference Call Attendees:
Ryan Winfield

Karen Pavelka

Carrie Roberts

Amy Brost

Heather Brown

Rose Daly


I. AIC Meeting (Karen)

a. AIC annual meeting location was moved to Philadelphia due to bankruptcy of previous venue. Group consensus was that the transition was handled very well, with clear communication throughout. Philadelphia will be an ideal location for students in the NYU and Delaware programs to attend, and the mid-Atlantic region is central for many AIC members, so it was good to be able to keep the 2011 meeting in the northeast.


II. Communications Update (Amy)

a. Conversation with Rachael Perkins Arenstein regarding AIC Publications. Rachael emphasized that ECPN members should feel free to send content for the AIC website, blog, etc. Students and emerging conservators are encouraged to send their research projects and theses to JAIC. For those wishing to submit content for the Wikis, each specialty group has its own approach and submission guidelines, and needs to be approached separately.

b. Conversation with Michele Derrick regarding JAIC Peer Reviewers. There were responses to the invitation and there is currently a robust list of prospective reviewers. They will be called upon depending on the nature of the submissions. There are two reviewers per paper, and although they remain anonymous, participants can certainly add “JAIC Peer Reviewer” to their resume under ‘professional affiliations’ or ‘service work.’

c. Four proposed ECPN logo designs and a flier design were submitted for discussion. The proposed flier has a tear-off ‘wallet card’ to make it easier to keep key information about ECPN, the blog, additional contact information, etc. Further discussion is needed regarding the appropriateness of having a separate logo for ECPN. Perhaps use ECPN logo in conjunction with the AIC logo. Flier will be used for ANAGPIC and perhaps other upcoming conferences.


III. Student Research Database (Carrie)

a. Carrie, Amber Kerr-Allison, and Sagita Sunara discussed the idea and would like to move ahead with a plan to create an online database of student research in conservation. Catalyst was the IIC in Istanbul and also the first annual Engaging in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (EPOCH) student symposium (Austin, TX). At both conferences, students felt that they were largely unaware of the research projects underway in other parts of the world. EPOCH has many abstracts already. Standards would need to be developed (i.e., require a significant research component). A link could be created off the AIC webpage. Rose will organize a conference call with Lori, Carrie, Amber, and Sagita to determine next steps.

IV. Outreach Update (Heather)

a. Poster abstract for AIC 2011 meeting was submitted, though no feedback yet. ECPN members could take shifts spending time at the poster to talk to meeting attendees about the organization. Heather will take a flier to a meeting of emerging museum professionals the week of Oct. 25. Rose will make Heather an Admin on the Facebook page so she can remove spam. Julie Benner of the Glasgow Conservation Center has agreed to write a post for the ECPN blog.

V. Mentor Program (Ryan)

a. Most of the mentee applicants have been paired up with mentors.

b. The process for pairing mentors with mentees is as follows: Process mentee applications and search for appropriate match. Team of three people are reviewing prospective matches. Email mentor with proposed mentee information for approval. If the mentor agrees, s/he then contacts the mentee. Mentee approves of the match.

c. Need to fine-tune the application process to regulate the flow of applications. Perhaps create four submission “cycles” with deadlines. Promote the program for each cycle to AIC members.

d. Get back to people waiting for mentors to let them know when they can expect a response.

e. Karen agreed to reach out to prospective mentors. Heather/Rose will follow up on the specific needs of the mentees.

VI. International Student Conference (Carrie, for Amber)

a. Idea that there should be an international version of ANAGPIC, an association of international conservation training programs. Need to find out how receptive the organizations would be. Students are not fully aware of all training programs. An international student conference could be organized, perhaps an online conference. Concerns about the overlap with other conferences, costs of travel, technology costs. Need to study the feasibility of the idea and how it might be executed.

VII. “Become a Conservator” Web Page (Ryan)

a. Reviewed by ECPN per Ryan’s request. Group consensus that there could be more links, more graduate program information, and more on training. Break up the text by inserting more photos, personal touches like people profiles.


Next conference call 1 PM EST, Thursday, November 18, 2010.


Respectfully submitted,

Amy Brost

Conservator Patricia Ewer Discusses Textile Conservation

Wednesday, November 17

7:00 pm

Reception Hall

Michael C. Carlos Museum

571 South Kilgo Circle

Atlanta, GA 30322

Andrew W. Mellon Visiting Conservator Patricia Ewer’s new book Textile Conservation: Advances in Practice, explores the changing role and practice of the textile conservator over the last twenty-five years, and captures the diversity of the textile conservators’ work. Ms. Ewer will explore that diversity through a discussion of several case studies from her recent work at the Carlos, which focused on textiles from the ancient Americas.