Agarose gel for controlled wet cleaning of textiles

Introduction to Agarose gel Agarose is one of the two principal components of agar, and is purified from agar by removing agar’s other component, agaropectin. Chemistry – Agarose, the gelling fraction, is a neutral linear molecule essentially free of sulfates, consisting of chains of repeating alternate units of ß-1,3-linked- D-galactose and a-1,4-linked 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose. Agarose is a polysaccharide that can be used to form a gel … Continue reading Agarose gel for controlled wet cleaning of textiles

Conservation and Preservation of an archival scrapbook

An important record of an organization, in the form of a scrap book, was brought to our lab for treatment and preservation. The data was important and the originals need to be rescued from further deterioration. The pictures, maps and documents in this scrapbook were pasted with an acidic glue to the black paper of a photo album. The glue could be confirmed as acidic … Continue reading Conservation and Preservation of an archival scrapbook

Studying old photographs

Old photographs are not just pictures showing some image, but, their anatomy, composition, texture and information written/printed/stamped etc. tell a lot more about the time, people, techniques of photography, its stability/instability with time and how it can be preserved or treated. These days , at Heritage Preservation Atelier, we are working on a collection of photographs. An objective view of a photograph gives a lot … Continue reading Studying old photographs

Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji and First attempts in Art Conservation (2013)

Conservation approach  Collaboration between community, religious heads, management, historians and conservation scientists is a remarkable involvement for the sacred cause of Conservation and Preservation of wall paintings of Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji. The conservation approach has to deal with multiple interwoven issues. Some points to consider were: Whether we need to explore the under-drawings, belonging to various eras, at this stage How to make conservation … Continue reading Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji and First attempts in Art Conservation (2013)

Preservation of Archival scrapbook

A scrap book, which was extremely important for the archives, was brought to our lab for treatment and preservation. The data and photographs were important and these original records need to be rescued from further deterioration. The pictures, maps and documents in this scrapbook were pasted with an acidic glue to the black paper of a photo album. The acidic nature of glue could be … Continue reading Preservation of Archival scrapbook

Heritage Preservation Atelier conducted a 3 days Workshop/congress in Chandigarh

Heritage and its conservation/preservation are both not very well understood by us. This is understandable, because, we lag behind in care and understanding of even more important and basic areas of life, like environment, waste-management, religion etc. In any case, each and every profession has to develop and grow in a positive way irrespective of the situations around in other fields of work. Unlike a … Continue reading Heritage Preservation Atelier conducted a 3 days Workshop/congress in Chandigarh

Life-size photograph from late nineteenth or early twentieth century

Condition Assessment and Treatment Record A Life -size photograph print that came for treatment to our lab could not be taken inside immediately at its arrival, as it had live termite all over it. All the life stages of a termite could be seen on the huge framed photograph. It was extremely difficult to control the flying termites that were all over our heads. The … Continue reading Life-size photograph from late nineteenth or early twentieth century

Should the importance and value of painting or heritage object decide the methodology of conservation? How much time, efforts and money should be put in conserving or restoring it?

Some objects and art work is priceless because of its historic or cultural value. It is wise to make a highly trained and educated conservator do it’s conservation with most expensive conservation grade material taking days and days of labour. But, if the work is of value only to the owner and he/she want to do it in a way that is less expensive and … Continue reading Should the importance and value of painting or heritage object decide the methodology of conservation? How much time, efforts and money should be put in conserving or restoring it?