Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori
By Dr. Lori Verderame
People love their collections. No matter the type of object—cookie jars, military memorabilia, fine art prints—collectors want to add to a collection, display their pieces, and enjoy learning more about their treasures. One of the most important aspects of collecting is preserving collectibles for the long term. Many collections include family heirlooms that will be handed down, so preserving a collection is very important. Here are some key points about how to protect, preserve, and prize your collections.
Fight the Light
Light is a problem when it comes to preservation of paintings and works on paper. UV protection using UV-filtered or opaque materials are key to preventing fading and light damage. One of the best ways to preserve fine art is investing in quality framing without class covering the surface of a painting. For an oil on canvas painting, a frame will protect both the stretcher and the canvas as well as give a finished look to the painting.
Unlike paintings which should not be framed under glass, prints require different protection. Prints and other works on paper like antique maps, historic documents, drawings, watercolors, etc. should be matted and framed under glass using materials that are acid free. This protects the object for the long term. For acid free materials like mats and storage boxes, a pH level of 7.0 or greater used at the time of manufacture and adhesives that are pH neutral are recommended. Works on paper are fragile and some acid free materials are made lignin free. Lignin can produce acid and darken paper known as tanning or acid burning. This is not what is desirable.
Some of the most critical damage that happens to art and antiques occurs when objects are stored. Although it is little known, significant damage can occur in storage. When you first put a piece in storage, everything is fine but over time, changes in temperature and humidity and other factors may affect condition. This happens when no one is looking. It is important to store objects in archival boxes intended for a particular type or size of collectible. Support is necessary for fragile objects and storage containers like archival boxes are constructed to stand the test of time. One size does not fit all when it comes to storage solutions.
Large paintings should be stored off the floor, preferably hanging up on secure hooks. If there is no room for such a storage solution, then store large paintings standing upright. While it may seem convenient, never lay paintings flat nor should they be stored face up under a bed or leaning against a sofa or other piece of furniture. Smaller paintings may be stored upright back-to-back or face-to-face on separated shelves. Use acid free foam core dividers to prevent the wire on the back of one painting from scratching the front of another painting. There are specific techniques to protecting art, a good rule of thumb is to handle with care, display works of art away from direct sunlight, and store works in areas where temperature and humidity fluctuations are minimal.
Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning media personality, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide, appears on Netflix and History channel, and hosts videos on her popular vintage bargain hunting YouTube.com/DrLoriV channel. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.