Tag Archives: Preventive

The Passage of Time also Paints

How far should a conservation-restoration process go? As the time passes by, materials darken, protective coatings yellow or become opaque, superficial grime accumulates over the artworks, etc. Furthermore, there are some factors

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Conservation Vs. Restoration

Conservators, also called Restorers (1) are professionals with enough skills, knowledge and training to preserve as well as conserve artworks and cultural heritage for the future generations. The conservator-restorer work is primarily a manual art/skill; but this should be closely related to theoretical knowledge which gives him/her the capacity to perform tasks such as carrying…
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Magna Carta Encasement

This video presents the fascinating behind-the-scenes creation of the Magna Carta encasement. This encasement will display the 715-year-old document at the National Archives. The 1297 Magna Carta being encased is one of only four remaining 1297 originals. Magna Carta is said to have influenced early American settlers and been a fundamental inspiration for the Constitution of the United States.

The Magna Carta encasement was machined at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) out of two solid blocks of aluminum and sits on a unique cart designed to support the document on exhibit. The encasement is air tight and is filled with humidified argon, an inert gas that, unlike oxygen, will not degrade the document. Elaborate instruments continuously monitor the conditions within the encasement for humidity presence and evidence of leaks.