Text Box: CONSERVATION / RESTORATION — WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

PETER J DAVID.Dip Ceramic Cons. ACR

(PJD CERAMICS LTD)

Caring for ceramics since 1982

Listed on the conservation register
Text Box: IN MORE DEPTH A BRIEF HISTORY OF CERAMIC CONSERVATION AND IT’S ETHICAL GUIDELINES THE CREATION OF CLAY OBJECTS BOTH UTILITARIAN AND DECORATIVE DATES BACK BETWEEN 10-15000 YEARS. THESE OBJECTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HIGHLY VALUED. MANY INGENIOUS WAYS HAVE BEEN DEVISED TO PRESERVE THEM WHEN THEY WERE BROKEN-FROM DRILLING HOLES IN ORDER TO TIE THEM BACK TOGETHER, TO THE USE OF BITUMEN, NATURAL GUMS & RESINS, SUCH AS SHELLAC, STICKY PROTEINS SUCH AS EGG AND ANIMAL GLUES, AND GLUTEN FROM WHEAT, THE CHINESE HAVE AND STILL DO USE GOLD LACQUER REPAIRS, AND PEOPLE HAVE EVEN USED MASHED SNAILS AND QUICK LIME AS AN ADHESIVE. DOCTOR FREDRICK RATHGEN OF THE ROYAL MUSEUM, BERLIN ,WROTE A BOOK IN 1898 TO EXPLAIN THE SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES OF THE DETERIORATION OF ANTIQUITIES AND TO GIVE DIRECTION ON THEIR TREATMENT METHODS. THIS IS OFTEN CONSIDERED TO BE THE STARTING POINT OF MODERN CONSERVATION, FROM WHICH ALL OTHER DISCIPLINES/TREATMENTS ARE DERIVED MANY OF HIS METHODS OF REPAIR/TREATMENT WOULD TODAY BE CONSIDERED UNETHICAL AND UNACCEPTABLE ,IT MUST HOWEVER BE REMEMBERED THAT THEY WERE A PRODUCT OF THE TIME AND CONSEQUENTLY FORM PART OF THE OBJECTS HISTORY BY TODAY’S CONSERVATION STANDARDS. . CONSERVATION PRACTICE IS TODAY IS USUALLY TO TAKE A LESS PROACTIVE/INTERACTIVE ROLE THAN WAS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT ACCEPTABLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATION BODIES WORLD WIDE THAT OFFER ADVICE AND GUIDANCE TO STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS; IT IS THROUGH THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENTS IN MUSEUMS AND UNIVERSITIES THAT KNOWLEDGE OF NEW MATERIALS AND PRACTICES IS DISSEMINATED TO THE PRACTITIONERS VIA CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS. DEFINITIONS SOME DEFINITIONS FROM THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY 1) REPAIR-RENOVATE OR MEND BY REPLACING OR FIXING PARTS 2) RESTORE- BRING BACK OR ATTEMPT TO BRING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE BY REBUILDING REPAIRING ETC 3) CONSERVE-KEEP FROM HARM OR DAMAGE ESPECIALLY FOR LATER USE. 4) PRESERVE-KEEP SAFE, FREE FROM HARM AND DECAY. ETHICS CONSERVATORS SHOULD ALWAYS WORK WITHIN THE ETHIC OF REVERSIBILITY– WHY? THIS ALLOWS FUTURE GENERATIONS/OWNERS THE CHOICE OF UNDOING ANY TREATMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT, AND AFFORDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE OBJECT IN IT’S STATE PRIOR TO ANY INTERVENTION. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ARE A REQUIREMENT: A SOUND KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OF CERAMICS AND IT’S VARIOUS FABRIC MAKE UPS , PREVENTATIVE TREATMENTS, MATERIALS AND THEIR METHODOLOGY FOR ALL STAGES INVOLVED, THE ABILITY TO APPLY SUCH KNOWLEDGE SYMPATHETICALLY AND APPROPRIATELY IN ALL ASPECTS i.e. STORAGE, TRANSPORT HANDLING AND DISPLAY. THIS CAN BE PRÉCISED AS: ALL TREATMENTS MUST BE REVERSIBLE IN THE LONG TERM. THAT ANY PROCESSES / TREATMENTS DO NOT CAUSE ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. THAT APPLIED MATERIALS MUST BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE FABRIC OF THE OBJECT. THAT THE FINISHED APPEARANCE OF THE OBJECT BE AS CLOSE TO THE ORIGINAL SURFACE AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE INTENTION TO DECEIVE. THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE OBJECT IS NOT COMPROMISED i.e. NOTHING IS ADDED OR TAKEN AWAY. APPLICATION OF THESE ETHICS AND GUIDELINES ULTIMATELY PRESERVE THE VALUE OF YOUR OBJECT BOTH FROM AN HISTORICAL, AND MONETARY POINT OF VIEW. PROCESSES WE THEREFORE HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROCESSES BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY WORK/TREATMENT EXAMINATION-ASSESSMENT OF THE FABRIC OF THE OBJECT ASSESSMENT OF APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION REALIZATION OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE ACTIONS Text Box: BRIEFLY THE PURPOSE OF CONSERVING AN OBJECT IS TO PREVENT IT FROM DETERIORATING ANY FURTHER. RESTORATION (OR REPAIR) TAKES THE PROCESS ONE STEP FURTHER AND ATTEMPTS TO RECREATE THE ORIGINAL CONDITION BY REBUILDING REPAINTING ETC. CONSERVATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A NECESSARY PROCESS BEFORE ANY RESTORATION CAN OR SHOULD TAKE PLACE.

 PJD CERAMICS LTD 2008

Phone: 01446 748153.

E-mail:pete@pjdceramics.co.uk