MapTrade Mailing List archive
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Maps in humid climates
- Subject: Re: Maps in humid climates
- From: Helen Glazer <glazergallery@home.com>
- Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 12:10:16 -0500
I have not lived in a tropical climate, although Baltimore, Maryland,
USA, in the summer is as hot and humid as they come! I can, however,
pass on some general principles gleaned from a workshop on preventive
conservation and care of art collections that I took several years ago
from Smithsonian Institution conservators.
Museums keep their storage areas at an optimum temperature of around 70
degrees F and relative humidity of 50%. However as I understand it, if
your conditions cannot be kept to this ideal (and historic houses, for
example, often are not air conditioned either), avoiding extremes, such
as the very high heat in an attic, and avoiding major fluctuations, such
as an unheated building that gets cold in the winter but hot in the
summer, should help from a preservation standpoint. If it's always warm
and humid that's better than warm and humid, then cold and dry, then
warm and humid again.
It always makes sense to keep any work on paper out of direct sunlight
and use UV filtering plexiglas. The client should check periodically for
signs of foxing or mold, as that is one of the common problems with
paper and high humidity.
Then there are some interesting products out that I have not tried, but
I picked up the information at a trade show booth. Fuji Silysia
Chemical Ltd. has a line of products called Art-sorb, which is supposed
to absorb and desorb moisture depending on the climate changes and
protect the artwork. It comes in various forms including sheets--I
guess you'd have to call them to see if it's appropriate in this
circumstance. Their number is (800) 795-9742 and they are in Oregon,
USA. The client might want to consult with a conservator, too. The
American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works gives
referrals. They're in Washington, DC, at (202) 232-6636.
Regards,
Helen Glazer
Webmaster for George Glazer Gallery
http://www.georgeglazer.com
Neil Charles Street wrote:
>
> To List: (especially the folks in tropical climates)!
> I have been asked about displaying an item (a 15th century BW woodcut) in a
> frame, in a warm, humid climate. Having never lived in such a happy place, I
> have only "book" experience to pass on. Can anyone offer suggestions on ways
> to safely hang such an item in this kind of environment? The display
> environment has air conditioning for extreme heat, but apparently it is
> often not switched on, and the windows are simply left open.
> Thanks,
> Neil
>
> Neil Charles Street -- Fine Antique Maps
> ncstreet@vintagemaps.com
> http://www.vintagemaps.com
> 15600 N.E. 8th St., Suite B 1655
> Bellevue, Wash 98008 USA
> Phone: +(425)895-9312
> Fax: +(425)883-2639
>
> This mailing list is brought to you courtesy of:
> Barry Lawrence Ruderman
> Old Historic Maps & Prints
> http://www.raremaps.com/
This mailing list is brought to you courtesy of:
Barry Lawrence Ruderman
Old Historic Maps & Prints
http://www.raremaps.com/
MapTrade Home Page |
Main Index |
Thread Index |
Author Index |
|
