Care of Furniture
This workshop covers the mechanical and physical behaviour of wood used in historical furniture. Traditional adhesives, finishes, and the use of metal fasteners and other various materials are also discussed. Agents of deterioration and their effects are presented, along with methods of minimizing deterioration (including proper storage and display conditions, and handling, examination, and documentation procedures). Common cleaning and treatment options, stabilization and consolidation methods, and the use of solvent tests to estimate how successful the treatment may be are included.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- identify the various materials found in historical furniture collections and describe their characteristics
- recognize signs of deterioration and understand the causes
- implement preventive conservation measures for furniture collections
- understand basic cleaning, stabilizing, and consolidation treatments for historical furniture
Units
Composition and Identification
Mechanical and physical behaviour of wood used in furniture. Traditional adhesives, finishes, and metal fasteners. Other materials commonly encountered such as leather writing surfaces, glass mirrors, decorative stone tops, and metal hardware. Technological development of woodworking and associated tools.
Deterioration
Forces that cause deterioration of wood, adhesives, finishes, metal fasteners, and other furniture materials: water, humidity, temperature, gravity, light, pests, inherent material problems dating from the time of manufacture, and human intervention. Desirable conditions for storage, display, and transport.
Handling, Examination, and Documentation
How to avoid negligent handling. Guidelines for examination and documentation. A structured approach to gathering collection survey information. How to rank priorities. Structural and cosmetic defects. Curatorial interpretation.
Preventive Conservation
Preventive conservation and its role in the preservation of cultural heritage. How to achieve desirable environmental conditions through monitoring. Importance of collection surveys. Physical and human factors in making practical improvements in relative humidity, temperature, light, contaminants, housekeeping, integrated pest management, security, fire protection, and emergency preparedness and response.
Interventions
Triage when both structural and cosmetic problems are obvious. Instructions for simple repairs, including the concept of the 'dry run' and appropriate adhesive choices for wood repairs. Methods to clean a surface. Issues concerning repairs to veneers, paint, and gilding. Solvent tests to help decide if a repair to a finish is likely or even possible. Hands-on sessions.
Target Audience
Conservators, museum technicians, curators, staff, and volunteers responsible for the display, care, and safekeeping of historical furniture collections.
Facilitator(s)
Language
English
Enrollment Limits
Minimum 10; maximum 15
Duration
2 days
Special Requirements
The host institution must provide:
- a well-ventilated work area large enough to accommodate 10–15 persons with 10 feet of clear wall space
- 6–8 tables, each approx. 2 m long
- display areas or period rooms in historic buildings for illustration and discussion
- a flipchart
