The Integrity Of A Treasure Trove Is Safeguarded Within Art Storage

By Brent Smith


Each creation of art is a unique, courageous adventure. Every painting, drawing, sketch, tapestry or sculpture represents a one-of-a-kind, evocative interpretation by its creator, deserving of care. Proper art storage provides for the unblemished lifespan a masterpiece demands, for viewing pleasure without compromise, for generations to come.

Collectors consistently concur that condition, rather than the age of an object, exerts the greater influence on its value. The forces of sunlight, humidity, environmental air quality, fungal growth, insects, framing and cleaning materials and moving methods impact condition while in stowage.

Direct light fades color, discolors paper and, as a heat source, damages artwork through dehydration. Humidity renders rippling and encourages the appearance of brown stains from fungal growth. Cool, dark, dry, non-fluctuating, temperature-controlled storage prevents the deleterious impact of dampness. Ideal temperature for preservation of artistic renderings is recommended at 67 degrees Fahrenheit.

Alleviating the effects of airborne contaminants, which settle onto paintings as microscopic particulate, is accomplished utilizing acid-free mounts and boards for framing. Canvases should always be stored flat in a crate and moved in the same configuration. Insecticides and spray cleaners should never be used on or near crated artwork.

Artwork that will be stored for a lengthy period of time should never be exposed to direct or near harmful, sub-par, often volatile, packing or processing materials. The high propensity for deleterious, reactive consequences due to off-gassing emissions can result in critical damage.

Highly purified raw materials, which comprise archival products, are recommended for safely housing artwork. Plexiglas, polyethylene foam, acid-free mat-board, acid-free tissue, metal, adhesion-free polyester fill and Polyolefin fabrics offer protection without reactionary damages that can occur quickly when objects are stored in proximity to inferior materials.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said 'Every artist was first an amateur.' So it is, too, in acquiring the methodology for taking care of an artist's creation. Innovation has unlocked the box that renders the secrets of preserving masterpieces in today's impervious art storage. Collectors, connoisseurs, and creators appreciate that 'Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.'




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