No gordian solution for the resilient conservator

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Rita Udina

Marbled edges on a semi-limp vellum binding, sewn endbands over parchment core (before conservation)

To trim or not to trim. Is that the question?
A book conservator deals with main ethical considerations. Sometimes because of the customer desire’s, and most of the time seeking an equilibrium between preservation and functionality. To top it up, we expect the result to be pleasant as well: not too new, not too worn; most original, but not too weak…
Rare is the case when we find a salomonic solution that satisfies all the requirements.
I guess a conservator is not the type who cuts the gordian knot, but rather one who tries to unlock it no matter how painful that is! Continue reading →

A midnight paper conservation dream

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Rita Udina

Short video about a paper conservation treatment

A lockdown is kind of stoping any activity, and that is what I have done, a stop-motion video, showing the full conservation treatment of a paper document Continue reading →

Save the date: Tuesday 21st at 11h

Posted on April 19, 2020 by Rita Udina

Conservation of a gouache and pastel drawing on impregnated tracing paper

Conference about impregnated tracing paper conservation and premier of the video of my latest super-oversized project Continue reading →

Christmas angels in serious condition,
on their way to full recovery!

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Rita Udina

conservation of medieval manuscript with angels

Christmas angels currently at ICU in serious condition. Diagnosis: chronical humidity, binding dislocation, a variety of infections and rodent attack.
Prognostic is optimistic because a high level team is taking good care of them. Soon they’ll be bright and happy as Larry, just like in this year’s Christmas greetings.
Don’t miss the video! Continue reading →

Smart materials for display, storage, housing and wrapping solutions in cultural heritage (APACHE)

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Rita Udina

The APACHE project aims to develop new technologies for display, storage and wrapping materials of cultural heritage. Answer the survey to contribute to it, and your collection will be represented in this leading research. Continue reading →

Retouching, a taboo in paper conservation?

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Rita Udina

Retouching is among the most sensitive within ethics in conservation since it means to establish the aspect a restored object is expected to have.
My opinion is that the looks of an historical object is often as important as its physical-chemical condition, and not intervening provides poor results that might mislead its readability more than a proper intervention. The more we intend to make it as neutral as possible, the least arbitrary, we need to admit that retocuhing requires good taste. Continue reading →

A Safe and Efficient Method for Silver Mirroring Removal in Photographic Conservation

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Rita Udina

At last a deffinitive method, safe and efficient for silver mirroring removal in historical photographs. This new treatment will change the way the issue of silver mirroring removal has been addressed in photographic collections. See it in this video and value the results. Continue reading →

Housing as a (quite desperate) conservation resource

Posted on February 26, 2019 by Rita Udina

New artwork arrives at the studio to be ready for an exhibition: pressure, limited time, bleeding inks…
Could it not be some other easier and more showing off artefacts?
Here’s what I do when I don’t seem to find much to do:
Tape removal, and failing to flatten under tension with magnets…
Mounting the artwork on a housing that secured an even tension on the artwork during the exhibition, was the last resource. Continue reading →

Untangling tensions, for an improved 2019

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Rita Udina

We wish you merry Chrsitmas and a better (and restored) 2019, untangling knots and tensions, at least those from parchment manuscripts. Continue reading →

Silver Mirroring: Its Importance, Formation Process, and a New Elimination Procedure

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Rita Udina

New Elimination Procedure for Silver Mirroring.
Silver mirroring is a type of deterioration that appears in most gelatin developing-out paper (DOP) historical photographs and black-and-white films. Its treatment involves so many problems that it has often been ruled out. In this article we present a new and simple elimination procedure, which is efficient and offers stable results in the long term.
The study of the causes of the formation of silver mirroring sheds light on aspects that had been little explained so far: the fact that this type of deterioration always appears on the surface of the image leads us to consider a mechanism of transport of electrical charges. Continue reading →

Unlocking St. Anthony’s locked manuscript

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Rita Udina

“Tony, Tony, come around, something’s lost and can’t be found!”
Some manuscripts require more than just manual skills to succeed in their conservation, and so we prayed to Saint Anthony to help us unlocking the bookbinding, whose key had been lost forever. Certainly not many renaissance bookbindings have an iron safety lock in their covers and thus this extra holly help was deemed quite necessary. The prayer didn’t provide any key, but at least a satisfactory conservation solution was achieved! Continue reading →

Gels, microemulsions and nano-systems applied to pressure sensitive tape removal: latest updates

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Rita Udina

Gels, microemulsions and nanosystems applied to paper conservation: Tape removal

Tape removal, chemical and physical gels, microemulsions and much more. Review and abstract of the conference “Nanosystems. Application to tape removal on cellulosic supports,”, which took place in Madrid (Spain), on June 6 to 8th, 2018; within the context of NanoRestArt, the european Research and Developement project. Continue reading →

Sōkō conservation for oversized sketches by Sorolla

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Rita Udina

Sorolla sketches represent the spontaneity, the genius and the creative stage for its own right. Their conservation shares with them this essentiality, the minimal intervention character. The restoration has adopted japanese tools and techniques, a paper conservation at the most eastern style. Or not that utmost, since the Karibari was replaced by a wooden board. Eastern or western, the restoration of the gouache sketches has been truly remarkable, and you’ll have to read it to know why. Continue reading →

Endbands, headbands and ties

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Rita Udina

The headband to a book is like the tie to a suit: they both give their owner the chance to stand out. It is like the icing on the cake of the binding, and gathers the bookbinder’s proficiency and taste. We’ll discuss their aspect like in a Vanity Fair, and go beyond: What are they meant for? and why stuck-on headbands are less cared by conservators than sewn ones? Should we replace them or conserve them?
The untrained eyes will look at them with more interest now, because -just like ties- there are headbands for all tastes! Continue reading →

Hold on and suck in, Miss Scarlett!
Removing a plastic corset from a manuscript

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Rita Udina

A personal story, a historic manuscript, a crazy laminating machine and a final outcome. We’ll discuss about synthetic polymers, sorts of laminations and encapsulation. All these ingredients are seasoned with PFTE, TFA, HFIP, PE, DMSO, PET… cling, dong and BOOM!… An explosive -but most irresistible- cocktail. Continue reading →

Rita Udina. Paper & Book conservation