As the new year begins, it offers a moment to reflect—not only on what we have accomplished, but on how we can communicate better and serve our community more thoughtfully. At South Florida Art Conservation, that reflection led us to a simple but meaningful decision: adding an art conservation glossary to our website as a New Year gift to our clients, colleagues, and followers.
Art conservation is a highly specialized field, rich in technical language. Terms such as consolidation, lining, flaking, or preventive conservation are familiar to conservators, yet they can feel unclear or intimidating to collectors, artists, and institutions. Over the years, we have seen that many excellent questions arise simply because conservation terminology is not always accessible.
This glossary is our way of closing that gap.
Transparency Builds Trust
Transparency is fundamental to our conservation practice. Whether we are working in paper conservation, paintings conservation, etc., every treatment decision has long-term consequences for an artwork’s stability, appearance, and historical integrity.
Clients deserve to understand not only what we recommend, but why. By clearly defining the terms used in condition reports, treatment proposals, and invoices, our conservation glossary helps clients engage more confidently with the conservation process. Clear language supports informed decision-making and strengthens trust between conservator and client.
Education Is Part of Conservation
Conservation does not begin—or end—in the studio. Many of the most effective preservation actions are preventive: controlling light exposure, monitoring relative humidity, choosing appropriate framing materials, or recognizing early signs of deterioration.
The glossary supports this preventive approach by explaining key concepts related to preventive conservation, material behavior, and environmental risk. Understanding these ideas helps collectors and institutions protect artworks before treatment becomes necessary, aligning with our broader mission of long-term stewardship.
A Resource for a Wider Community
While created with our clients in mind, the conservation glossary is also a resource for artists, students, collectors, and museum professionals seeking reliable information about conservation terminology. As part of our educational mission, we believe that sharing knowledge openly benefits both the public and the profession.
This initiative complements our ongoing commitment to teaching through conservation courses and workshops, lectures, internships, and publications. Making terminology accessible is one small but important step toward a more informed and engaged conservation community.
Why We Consider Our Conservation Glossary a Gift
We intentionally view this glossary as a gift because it is freely available and not tied to a service or treatment. It exists simply to provide clarity, education, and value. In a profession rooted in care, patience, and responsibility, sharing knowledge without expectation feels especially meaningful at the start of a new year.
It is also our way of saying thank you—to the clients who trust us with their artworks, to colleagues who exchange ideas and expertise, and to followers who continue to learn alongside us.
A Living Resource
Like conservation itself, this glossary is not static. As methodologies evolve and new research emerges, terminology changes and expands. We consider this glossary a living document—a starting point and a work in progress—that will grow over time, reflecting both newly added terms and our own ongoing practice and experience.
We welcome suggestions and feedback. If there is a term you encounter and would like to see clarified, we invite you to let us know.
Looking Ahead at Our Conservation Glossary
Our hope is that this glossary becomes a practical and reliable reference—something you return to when reading a condition report, planning preventive care, or simply deepening your understanding of how artworks are preserved.
Conservation is ultimately about stewardship: caring for cultural heritage so it can be experienced by future generations. Sharing knowledge is part of that responsibility. This glossary is our New Year gift—offered with clarity, generosity, and best wishes for the year ahead.
