Care & Evaluation of Your Art
Museums are often inundated with questions concerning the value of
art, photographs, antiques and other objects. It is actually unethical,
and in many cases illegal, for a Museum to appraise items such as these.
Two organizations that can help you find an appraiser are:
Appraisers Assocation of America
(http://www.appraisersassoc.org)
American Society of Appraisers
(http://www.appraisers.org/)
Your art, antiques, photographs and family treasures all have a limited
life span, but there are things you can do to make them last longer. All
objects can be damaged by the environment they are in. Museums go to
great lengths to control the environment, which is why galleries are
often dimly lit and cool. Paper and fabrics are especially sensitive to
light. We all know that light makes colors fade, but it also
deteriorates the materials used in a work of art or an antique. Keep
sunlight exposure to a minimum by closing the drapes when you are not at
home. Having your windows tinted will not only prolong the life of you
art, it will also, in most cases, lower your energy bill. Avoid placing
art in rooms with florescent lights. Florescent lights give off a lot of
UV (Ultra-Violet) light which is especially destructive to the colored
pigments and dyes used in art, fabrics and upholstery.
Temperature and humidity are the other major environmental factors that
can lead to the destruction of art and antiques. In most instances,
Museums try to maintain a temperature of 70º degrees and 50% humidity.
This is ideal for most objects. At higher humidity levels, metals begin
to rust or tarnish and mold begins to grow above 65%. At lower levels,
paper becomes brittle and fragile and furniture joints may begin to
loosen. Keeping your air conditioning on in the summer and using a
humidifier in the winter (depending on the part of the country you live
in) will go a long way to preserving your art.
The following are a few quick tips that will also help preserve your
collection:
- Never lift a painting or a framed print by the top of the
frame, instead pick it up by the sides or the bottom and a side.
- Do not
use glass cleaner for anything other than glass (for Plexiglas® use a
Plexiglas® cleaner available at any glass shop.)
- Keep your furniture
waxed and use coasters.
- Dust first, then vacuum (If your vacuum cleaner
stirs up dust, it is time to buy a new one.)
- Keep clutter to a minimum
and take out the trash every night since it attracts insects, many of
which can eat artwork.
- Finally, never clean a work of art other than
dusting the top of the frame. The cleaning of artwork is a specialized
field and it should only be done by a trained conservator.
For a good general site with information about caring for things you may have
in your home (antiques, heirlooms, artworks, photographs, and more):
Canadian Conservation
Institute (http://www.preservation.gc.ca/index_e.asp)
To find a conservator in your area or to obtain guides for caring for
specific types of objects please visit:
American Institute for
Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (http://aic.stanford.edu/) |
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