Sewing a book after 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
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
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
Case of a 150 year old engineering drawing
Case of a 150 year old engineering drawing Continue reading Case of a 150 year old engineering drawing
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
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
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
Sticky post
Preserving Ancient Art: Insights from Temple 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 Preserving Ancient Art: Insights from Temple Ruins
Anoxia for Museum collections
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
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
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
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
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
Sticky post
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
Glimpses of Conservation work at Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji (2014- 2017)
Professional surface cleaning of a painting on canvas..
Paper and book conservation – Part 8
Once the old damaged binding was opened and stuck up pages of the books (to be treated) were separated/opened-up and the torn pages mended, the information in the books was digitally preserved. This digitization process was done before re-binding because it would have been difficult and damaging to digitize them in bound state. It is always easier to digitize in a flat state. Continue reading Paper and book conservation – Part 8
Memories,work and team
Paper and book conservation – Part 7
Paper and book conservation – Part 6
Last week we were busy tending each and every folio of the highly damaged and acidic books that we are restoring these days. Following pictures of just one of the books might give an idea of the kind of work we are doing these days with the help of our talented young staff. Continue reading Paper and book conservation – Part 6
Paper and book conservation : Part 5
Among the books being treated in our lab, one is binding of 12 journals from november 1907 to October 1908. Individual pages were mended with skill and patience. They were then joined at the central edge and signatures or journals gathered for final binding.. Continue reading Paper and book conservation : Part 5
Anoxic Treatment of Textile Collection
Curators are the voice of museum objects
Museum objects have so much to say! But their voice is outside their own existence.. Only curators can tell what the objects want to say, to the world, and that message should be correct! Moreover, if an object is being infested with some deteriogen, only curators can voice their pain to the doctors of the cultural objects,viz, conservators. This fact makes us understand the huge … Continue reading Curators are the voice of museum objects
Paper and book conservation – Part 4
Book and paper conservation – Part 3
Paper and book conservation – Part 1
Paper and book conservation – Part 2
Two major problems associated with old paper manufactured during mid nineteenth century onward are: Brittleness Yellowing or darkening Breaking of paper due to brittleness (loss of flexibility to bend without breaking) generally occurs in very old paper which was manufactured from wood pulp technology. Other feature found in such old paper getting brittle, is yellowing or browning. Paper becomes acidic either by absorbing pollutants such … Continue reading Paper and book conservation – Part 2
Panj Mandir: Another example from bygone era speaking of oneness, co-existence, love and mutual respect
Heritage Conservator
Paper and book conservation- Part 1
To understand and master paper conservation, one must understand the composition and manufacturing of paper. The composition of paper and raw material in its making has varied since its invention in 105 AD in China. The timeline of paper manufacturing technique and composition as understood from various sources is as follows: The invention of paper by T’sai Lun, a member of Imperial Guard and Privy … Continue reading Paper and book conservation- Part 1
Hard to understand the brilliant simplicity
We need CMP and MAP in place for our museums
Beyond Display: Why Museums Need Strong Policies to Protect What Matters Museums are not just buildings filled with artifacts—they are guardians of memory, identity, and continuity. They hold the tangible expressions of our shared past, from handcrafted textiles and ancient tools to rare manuscripts and ceremonial objects. But behind every well-lit gallery and carefully curated exhibit lies a deeper responsibility: the long-term care and ethical … Continue reading We need CMP and MAP in place for our museums
Art and Culture as Rescue and Business
The kind of involvement it takes to create an art work at the level of mind and senses, makes the activity a form of meditation. The focus and spontaneity required not only keeps the mind free of negative thought process, but at the same time creates positive vibes of satisfaction, accomplishment and self worth. If the person involved in this form of skill has the … Continue reading Art and Culture as Rescue and Business
Government Museums need more Government Care..
Museums are the reflection of any culture or city or a part of art/history. Tourists rarely miss a chance to visit any city’s museum(s) in their travel plans. But, museums are not taken seriously by their own caretaker government departments because they don’t seem to generate revenue. This viewpoint needs to be changed because they are actually always on the tourists’ interest and with proper … Continue reading Government Museums need more Government Care..
Securing the flaking-off pieces
There are many methods used to secure the falling of pieces right in the beginning , before we start with other treatment procedures of conservation. These methods are extremely helpful as they allow the conservators work with more confidence while removing the surface accumulations that are damaging as well as obscuring the art work and other relevant details. allow safe movement of the artifact while … Continue reading Securing the flaking-off pieces
Heritage in smaller ordinary objects
CONSERVATION OF MUGHAL SARAI, DORAHA: Tile Work
Restoring memories at Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji
The beginnings of Art Conservation work at Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji… Much of the conservation work on the first floor was completed by mid 2014… After this, it took many months for the finishing and doing the added work of ground floor walls and some other areas too… Its a story that needs to be understood for its uniqueness even before being heard…………… Continue reading Restoring memories at Sri Harmandar Saheb Ji
A little recording from photograph conservation project of 2014
When we are handling old photographs’ collection, we must understand the simpler as well as the very technical aspects perfectly before starting any minimum or maximum intervention. We also need to keep the preventive storage or display case ready before we finish the treatment. Continue reading A little recording from photograph conservation project of 2014
Art and Objects that speak of Lives and Culture
Careful removal of thin obscuring surface layers in a painting
Conservators try to preserve, strengthen and bring back the original visual intent of the artist..
Studying the surface layers in an oil on canvas painting
Use of customized gel to remove thick layer of varnish from an oil on canvas painting
Use of customized gel to remove thick layer of varnish from an oil on canvas painting
Sticky post
Fabric of Faith: Conservation of Chola Saheb Ji (2011)
Conservation of Chola Saheb Ji (2011)
Silk Conservation (2010)
Condition Assessment: Problems : The silk flag to be treated was very old and hence had deteriorated a lot by intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors. It was shattering at the slightest handling. The major deteriorating factors have been: Silk being naturally susceptible to fast ageing, gets embrittled leading to splits and tears, and eventually a powdery and very friable fabric is left. Warp and … Continue reading Silk Conservation (2010)