Paper Conservation

Our paper conservator has a post-graduate degree in paper conservation and experience in both public art galleries and archives.  We offer a full range of conservation treatments for art on paper and archival materials.

Works of Art on Paper

Our lab is well-fitted for modern methods in paper conservation, with the equipment and materials necessary to treat both historic and contemporary works on paper.  In addition to immersion cleaning, delicate cleaning projects can be undertaken on a suction table or platens, or with the use of rigid gums or poulticing materials.   There is a full array of chemicals and gels with pH and conductivity meters available for cleaning and stain removal solutions.  As appropriate, repairs and linings utilize traditional wheat starch paste and tissue or modern adhesives and supports.

Our lab offers the benefit of cooperation between conservation specialists for innovative techniques and materials to treat mixed media and contemporary artworks.  We also offer museum hinging, matting and framing to ensure preservation, and conservation-sound mounting for display of paper-based artworks.

Archival Material

Our lab undertakes conservation treatments on such objects as documents, cards, certificates, posters, pamphlets and maps.  We also offer conservation of archival collections, including treatment and preventive improvements for long term storage.  Photographs and books are treated on a limited basis.

Our experience in preservation and conservation of archival materials has been refined through decades of work in condition surveys and conservation assessment for archival collections.  We are conversant with standards in archival processing and can tailor phased preservation and conservation improvements to suit the needs of the archivist, maintaining original order and intellectual control.  We can also fabricate welded encapsulation L-welds and envelopes, custom enclosures, folders and custom boxes for long term preservation storage.

To see examples of our work in paper conservation, please refer to our paper conservation portfolio.