Author: namitajaspal

Namita Jaspal, with inherited skills of art and aesthetics and passion for science, opted to pursue post- graduation in ‘Conservation of Cultural Property’ after her graduation in Science from Delhi University in 1992. Four year intense training at National Museum Institute provided the right foundation to start a career in Conservation. She is currently practicing conservation consultancy for Heritage property including monuments and collections. She has been doing independent research in conservation techniques and procedures in Indian context. She is currently working on the conservation of wall-paintings of Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji (The Golden temple at Amritsar. The project is nearing completion and getting a lot of appreciation for the organized and ethical treatment it is providing. It is for the first time in the history of Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji (The Golden Temple) that wall painting conservation and preservation is being done in a scientific manner, keeping the codes of Ethics into consideration while decision making. Another project just completed is of the Conservation of Krishna Temple at Kishankot, Gurdaspur, Punjab. In her private Conservation Laboratory, she is not only providing onservation services, but also mentoring young aspiring conservators and archaeologists by the way of training and paid internships. She has been a guest lecturer at DIHRM (Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management). With all the updated knowledge database and innovative practical approaches relevant to the Indian conditions, she could successfully do curative and preservative treatment of very old textiles like a nine feet long flag from nineteenth century that is regarded as priceless memorabilia of second Dogra regiment at Chandi Mandir, and four hundred years old (seventeenth century) Chola Sahib Ji of Sixth Guru of Sikhs, Sri Hargobind Sahib Ji. Apart from this she has done conservation of Photograph collections, archival records, numerous paintings, manuscripts and other cultural objects. She is also involved in preparation of up-gradation proposals for museums and such organizations. Her expertise includes Conservation and preservation technologies and procedures for conservation of varied material like wall paintings, paper, photographs, textile, ceramics, stone, metal and archaeological objects.
Heritage Conservation

Conservation of wall paintings at Thakur Satyanarayan temple: a brief account

This hundred year old temple needed an uplift. It had wall paintings that were not clearly visible due to layers of grime and there was also heavy flaking to make the condition worst. The temple authorities had already tried a few artists to over paint the damaged paintings. The new over-painting of course looked brighter, but the quality and style were a big mismatch with … Continue reading Conservation of wall paintings at Thakur Satyanarayan temple: a brief account

namitajaspal2 Comments
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation, Paper conservation

Sellotape: How it deteriorates and changes with time

  What is sellotape?  Sellotape is basically a brand of transparent, polypropylene-based, pressure-sensitive tape. But, this term is also used for any such pressure sensitive tape of any brand. Sellotape is generally used for joining, sealing, attaching and mending.The older version of sellotape has shown some changes in its physical and chemical properties over a longer period of time due to ageing. Initially such tapes … Continue reading Sellotape: How it deteriorates and changes with time

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Sticky post
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation

Preservation of a scrapbook of important records

This blog post is about the conservation and preservation of a scrapbook/album with extremely important documents, pictures and maps, that was breaking into pieces because of ageing and brittleness. During initial observations it was found that it is extremely difficult to remove the originals from the brittle backing because the adhesive had turned acidic, brown and quite insoluble. We found that the adhesive used to … Continue reading Preservation of a scrapbook of important records

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation, Painting Conservation

Treating the back of a canvas painting

Reports and write-ups on “Conservation of a canvas paintings” generally skip or very slightly mention the problems (and their treatment) at the back of a canvas painting. We need to understand that back represents the health of the canvas support on which the paint layer is resting. Dust/dirt has a tendency to collect on the back of paintings. It settles between the canvas and stretcher … Continue reading Treating the back of a canvas painting

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Sticky post
Heritage Conservation, Painting Conservation, Wall painting Conservation

Conservation of wall paintings at the Golden Temple(Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji), Amritsar, India

Namita JaspalHeritage Preservation Atelier, Chandigarh, Indianamitajaspal72@gmail.com, heritage.atelier@gmail.comhttp://www.heritagepreservationatelier.comKeywords – Sikh art, Mural paintings, Conservation, Religion AbstractThis case study regarding the conservation of wall paintings at The Golden Temple (Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji) Amritsar, India, intends to highlight some specific conservation issues related to the active religious sites that are historically very important and have huge role in linking present and future religious beliefs to their origin … Continue reading Conservation of wall paintings at the Golden Temple(Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji), Amritsar, India

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Cleaning with gels, Heritage Conservation, Textile Conservation

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

namitajaspal4 Comments
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation, Photograph Conservation

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

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation, Photograph Conservation

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

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation, SriHarmandar Saheb Ji, Wall painting Conservation

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)

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation

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

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation, Workshops

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

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Photograph Conservation

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

namitajaspal1 Comment
Heritage Conservation

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?

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation

Conservation Lab: removing old repairs

Many a times while treating certain artifacts, specially on paper, one might feel that certain old repairs or treatments might be kept as such. But, when we proceed with the treatment we find that it was better if everything added as a repair was removed before starting our own treatment. Removing old repairs or not is an important point to be studied thoroughly while decision … Continue reading Conservation Lab: removing old repairs

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation

Getting ready for next workshop: March 2019!

Another opportunity for budding conservators to understand and learn: Conservation scenario in India The basic material and techniques used in archival conservation The basic materials and techniques in oil painting (on canvas) conservation possible job and business prospects Queries can be send here: Some glimpses from earlier workshops: Continue reading Getting ready for next workshop: March 2019!

namitajaspal4 Comments
Anoxia for museum collections, Archival Conservation, Conservation of Paper paintings, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Bookworms love spines of books and hate anoxic environment

Its our experience that insects that damage books are mainly attacking spine. This is because the spine receives liberal amount of adhesive while book making. After eradicating all the various stages of insects thriving in the books, book conservators repair damaged and deteriorated bound materials. We treat them further so that readers/researchers can consult them without further damage. Artistic features of a book, such as … Continue reading Bookworms love spines of books and hate anoxic environment

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Sticky post
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Aspergillus niger and Paper

Aspergillus niger is one of the most active cellulolytic fungi. The roll of drawings in the above picture is mainly infested by A. niger and Chaetomium sp. as identified from the cultures isolated from the deteriorating inner-side of the roll. This culture was maintained on potato dextrose agar slants. Following are the digital pictures of the portions of the slides that were studied under a … Continue reading Aspergillus niger and Paper

namitajaspal2 Comments
Archival Conservation, Conservation of Paper paintings, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Paper burnt or eaten?

  This black powdery sheet (!) is not burnt paper, but, paper eaten by fungus. Cellulolytic microorganisms are hiding nicely all around us and are much more destructively powerful than we can expect from the tiny spores. Storage enclosures that were designed and created for protection turned out to be actually working with the deteriogens (deteriorating micro-organisms), by providing them not just the ideal and … Continue reading Paper burnt or eaten?

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Conservation of Paper paintings, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Removing Foxing is doable, but needs thorough understanding and patience too…

In paper conservation literature, there are many ways and materials advised to be used to remove foxing or at least lighten its scars. Here i am not going to suggest what to use, but would like to mention the importance of a thorough knowledge of chemistry and physics too apart from the deep appreciation of the art work and its technique! The conservator must know … Continue reading Removing Foxing is doable, but needs thorough understanding and patience too…

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Foxing

That peculiar smell/odor when some old books are opened, might at times be associated with mold and foxing. We come across books with foxing that may have very strong odor. All old books have vellichor, but some have stronger musty odor. Foxing is an age-related process of deterioration that causes spots and browning on old paper documents and books. The name may derive from the … Continue reading Foxing

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation, Photograph Conservation

Glassine stuck to a Photograph

We come across many different kind of problems associated with old black and white photographs. Fading, yellowing, redox blemishing, silver mirroring etc are some common problems with old photographs. These problems are generally due to the inherent causes or reasons present within the Photograph either because of the technique or material involved in making of the photograph. There are many additional problems that arise due … Continue reading Glassine stuck to a Photograph

namitajaspal2 Comments
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

BoPET: Mylar/Melinex/Hostaphan

All the conservation labs/workshops have mylar or melinex as the most commonly used material while treatment procedures as well as in packaging and safe storage or display etc. Such widely and frequently used material is known to all by these trade names (Mylar and Melinex), but not many know the exact properties and actual name of this material. The actual name is Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate … Continue reading BoPET: Mylar/Melinex/Hostaphan

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Case study of conservation of a map

Info from the print Condition Assessment We received the map in a folded form. There was some adhesive residue visible on the outside. On opening of the very first fold we found that due to the application of some adhesive, the folds were stuck to each other. There was an attempt in past, by someone to open it up despite the stuck-up condition. So, the … Continue reading Case study of conservation of a map

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Paper and book conservation – Part 9

Finally, all the books that came to our lab have been restored and given a kind of new life. They are going back to the library tomorrow morning. Following is a re-sharing of a summary of all the conservation processes performed in our lab: Team Heritage Preservation Atelier had a challenging task of conservation of a set of books that could not be digitized by … Continue reading Paper and book conservation – Part 9

namitajaspal2 Comments
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Team working towards final steps of an intense task of books’ conservation

Team Heritage Preservation Atelier had a challenging task of conservation of a set of books that could not be digitized by a library because of the extremely brittle pages and stuck up and deteriorated condition. We started with making a detailed condition assessment report. After initial documentation, we opened up the worn out and damaged binding and treated each and every folio individually. Damaged signatures … Continue reading Team working towards final steps of an intense task of books’ conservation

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Studying Paper for presence of watermark and bluish tinge: Case of 150 years old drawing

The drawing under study is made in 1868 (as evident from the signature) and the watermark mentions the paper manufacturing year to be 1866. ‘Watermarks’ are markings put into paper during its production, by making thinner or thicker  layer of pulp when it is still wet. It becomes visible when paper seen with light source at the back of the paper. This drawing was created … Continue reading Studying Paper for presence of watermark and bluish tinge: Case of 150 years old drawing

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Case of a 150 year old engineering drawing

June 26, 2018   By Manit When we first saw the drawing on site, it appeared to be in a fairly good condition. Once it arrived in our conservation lab and we started a thorough diagnosis, there were a lot many observations and analytical details that were required to be considered before any treatment methodology could be prescribed or finalized. In this blog post we … Continue reading Case of a 150 year old engineering drawing

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Conservation of Paper paintings, Heritage Conservation, Miniature paintings, Painting Conservation

Some deteriogens are very nicely hidden

One of the miniature paintings we came across last month was showing some signs of biological degradation, but no active microbes were visible on the surface. This was unlike other miniature paintings of the same lot, which had visible mold on surface, specially at the back of the painting. This painting had no mold visible even at the back. But, at a closer look and … Continue reading Some deteriogens are very nicely hidden

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Conservation of Paper paintings, Heritage Conservation, Miniature paintings, Painting Conservation

Brief record of miniature painting’s assessment and conservation

When a conservator gets art works like the above miniature painting, it is not just the damages that interest him/her, it is also the history/mythology and story depicted in the painting that attracts the conservator. Story/history/mythology apart from the technique and place in timeline/age, would scale the importance of the painting. We study a painting for following aspects before going for actual conservation: Story/interpretation /mythological importance/historical … Continue reading Brief record of miniature painting’s assessment and conservation

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation, Miniature paintings, Painting Conservation

Flaking in Miniature Paintings

Indian miniature paintings have various schools and technical differences, but most of them have thick paint layer and impasto effects. Thick paint layers tend to flake off under certain circumstances. This flaking can be very unstable/powdering off or more stable in the sense that flaking is not falling off easily… We at heritage preservation Atelier are consistently  testing the efficiency of different treatment procedures adopted … Continue reading Flaking in Miniature Paintings

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Frescoes, Heritage Conservation, Painting Conservation, Wall painting Conservation

Rescuing Frescoes from ruins

At the edge of a jungle, we found some ruins of a temple which was still functional in adjoining more recently constructed room. Initially when i visited the site in 2008, there was another structure right in the middle of the temple complex. This structure was now (2015) totally erased from the landscape. Only a defining foundation of it was left. This central part would … Continue reading Rescuing Frescoes from ruins

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation

Blue-prints and White-prints or blue-lines

(June 2017 These days we are working on a few blue-prints and blue-lines in our lab. Before starting any work, we tried to discuss the original material and technique used into making them, with our team.) Both these processes use different light sensitive chemicals for re-producing or copying the original drawings made on translucent paper. These processes were discontinued over a period of time because … Continue reading Blue-prints and White-prints or blue-lines

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Heritage Conservation, Miniature paintings, Painting Conservation, Picture Gallery

Painting, backing, conservation and Physics

Very often we have seen that old worn out paintings are pasted on thicker backing board or sheet. This initially looks good as the worn out or crushed paper or fabric looks much better as it acquires the smoothness and strength of the new backing; but, we tend to ignore that this is not for ever. Whenever the adhesive chemistry weakens with ageing and time, … Continue reading Painting, backing, conservation and Physics

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Miniature paintings, Painting Conservation

one little observation while studying old miniature paintings

At times we find old sticky tape which leaves almost no adhesive on paper and does not make the paper brittle; instead, it makes its own plastic base brittle. Is this because of the adhesive chemistry itself or because of the pigment on the paper it is applied on? Continue reading one little observation while studying old miniature paintings

namitajaspalLeave a comment
Archival Conservation, Conservation of Paper paintings, Heritage Conservation, Museums

Paper paintings and mounting issues

  We have learned while specializing in the field of conservation of cultural property (more specifically art, in the present discussion), about the specific type of material that should be used while mounting a painting on paper. The technique also matters a lot. One common technique of mounting involves creating ‘hinges’ on the mount board at the back. We come across paintings that have been … Continue reading Paper paintings and mounting issues

namitajaspal1 Comment
Archival Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Paper and book conservation

Issues in old books and traditional re-binding

When the pages have turned very brittle and there are tears, lost areas and old repairs with incompatible and damaging materials, it is not that simple to mend and rebind a book with traditional sewing technique.   Some binding procedures that cannot be performed properly or at all are:  We cannot trim the edges. We can not round the spine. Using needle on a brittle … Continue reading Issues in old books and traditional re-binding

namitajaspalLeave a comment