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Loss of media (and often the support) caused by rubbing or scraping. Abrasions Example |
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An accumulation of extraneous matter on the surface of the artwork that alters the artist’s design, i.e. dirt, dust, grime, etc. Accretions Example |
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Acidic Backboard: |
Rear board upon which paper art is mounted, made of wood, wood pulp or other acidic materials which will seriously damage art paper. |
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Alteration to a work on paper (usually darkening – resembling burned paper) caused by lignin containing acidic materials in proximity to, or in contact with the art. Acid Burn Example |
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The border around a picture, between the picture and the frame made of wood pulp paper or other acidic material which will seriously damage the art paper. Acidic Mat Example |
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Paper adhered to a stiff board behind it; usually with glue or self adhesive tape. Adhered to Backboard Example |
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Remains of adhesive left by previous application of paste, tape, glue, etc; generally occurs during inept mounting of the sheet. Adhesive & Tape Residue Example |
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An attachment to the sheet to add strength and stability. Auxiliary Support Example |
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Removal of a rear board (See Adhered to Back Board) to which a work on paper has been adhered. Removal can be wet, if the art can be immersed and the adhesive is water soluble, or dry with a scalpel if the work cannot be immersed in water. Backing Removal Example |
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Biological Degradation: |
See "Mold/Mildew" and "Insect Damage". |
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Board: |
A thin firm board made of compressed paper pulp, used as a support for drawing or painting. |
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Removal of dirt, or other soiling; dry cleaning or wet cleaning (washing) are the two most common methods. Cleaning Example |
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Separation and lifting of media (gouache, paint, etc.). From the support layer (paper, board, etc.). Cleavage Example |
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A wrinkle on broad system of wrinkles without creasing. Cockleing Buckeling Example |
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Procedure to re-adhere delaminating media to its primary support sheet on board. |
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Line or mark made by folding or wrinkling. Crease Example |
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Straight separation in support caused by sharp slicing action. Cut Example |
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Mitigation or removal of conditions causing work to be or become acidic. |
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Separation of the layer(s) of the support and/or media layer(s); often accompanied by flaking. Delamination Example |
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Dimple: |
Any small, hollow place. |
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Dirt/Grime: |
Dirt of any kind that has accumulated on the surface (accretion); may also be embedded into the support (soiling). |
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Changes of hues, often uneven and visually detrimental to the prevailing tones. Discoloration Example |
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A folded down corner. Dog-ear Example |
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Stretch by tension. Draw Example |
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Any damage in and confined to the edge of a sheet of paper; usually small tears. Edge Damage Example |
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Support has become perceptibly fragile to the point of snapping, crumbling or breaking. Embrittlement Example |
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Faded: |
Losses of brightness or brilliance of the color(s). |
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Fill: |
Material used to replace missing areas of loss. |
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Media and/or support layers to dislodging from the support. Flaking Example |
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Flyspeck: |
Small dark spots of fly excretion. |
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Foxing: |
Reddish-brown stains believed to be caused by metal particles in the paper being attacked by micro-organisms; foxing previously thought to be a variety of mold or mildew. |
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Frass: |
Powdery residue left by insects after attacking a sheet of paper or board. |
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Friable: |
Insufficient binding to adhere the media to the sheet or board (support). |
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Fugitive: |
Unstable colors that have or will diminish or suffuse into adjacent areas when exposed to light, moisture or solvents. |
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A groove, indentation or cavity resulting from an object pressing or cutting into the surface without completely penetrating the support. |
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Handling Dents: |
Shallow creases (usually in or near the edges) created by rough handling. |
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Hinge: |
A small folded rectangle of paper with adhesive (or tape) used to mount a sheet to a support. Usually part of a mounting or matting procedure. |
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Damage created by improper application of hinges to a sheet. Self adhesive tapes may bleed through creating a permanent stain; excessive mounting adhesives may also create permanent compression of paper fibres. Hinge Damage Example |
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Open or hollow loss in the support. Hole Example |
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Imbedded: |
A variant of embedded. |
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Inclusion: |
A foreign body enclosed within the mass of the paper fibres. |
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Over-run and invaded; usually associated with insects, bacteria or other microorganisms such as mold, although it can also pertain to other pests. Infestation Example |
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Inherent Vice: |
Existing condition that causes deterioration of an object as a result of its original construction. |
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Numerous species of insects feed upon materials in paper borne works, inflicting damage which can be massive, resulting in partial or total destruction. Insect Damage Example |
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Insecure: |
A damaged work which maybe in the process of deterioration due to weakening of materials or due to weakness in structure or construction; work will probably sustain further damage if moved or handled without immediate attention. |
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Liquid Stain: |
Stain created by an unidentified liquid. |
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Missing area in one or more layers of image; most frequently the result of flaking, abrasion, tearing, skinning, insect attack, etc. Loss Example |
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Replacing loss areas (holes, etc.) with material not original to the work. Loss Compensation Example |
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Darkened area caused by acidic conditions related to the use of improper matting materials. See "Acidic Mat". Mat Stain or Matburn Example |
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Mend: |
Reattach or reinforce cuts, tears, etc. |
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Any of various fungi growths that invade many organic surfaces provided sufficient moisture is present, producing enzymes that dissolve, stain, or degrade the host material. Mold/Mildew Example |
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Offset: |
Planographic printing using indirect image through such as photomechanical plates. |
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Photo Oxidation: |
Degradation of paper and/or media by light. In media this results in fading; in paper it results in destruction of the molecular structure of the cellulose paper fibre and can result, in extreme cases, in the total collapse and loss of the sheet. |
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Physical Degradation: |
Degeneration of the overall structure. |
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Structural deformation of the support whereby it is no longer flat or in place. (See Cockling and Buckling). Planar Deformation Example |
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Insufficient binding media or failure of the binding media to adhere pigments to the support causing the media to become powdery, chalky or crumbly. Powdering Example |
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A restoration performed prior to the current examination. Previous Restoration Example |
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Primary Support: |
Material providing the foundation for the image. i.e. paper, vellum, etc.; called the “primary support,” when a secondary support is present. |
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Hole created by impact. Puncture Example |
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Loss in the media, which may extend into the support caused by marking the surface with something sharp. |
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Backing, backboard, mounting support or other material providing a foundation layer for the primary support. Secondary Support Example |
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Sheet: |
A broad, thin, usually rectangular piece of paper serving as a support for media; drawings, watercolors, etc. are referred to by collectors as “sheet(s)”. |
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Shellmark: |
Crease in the pattern of a half circle; generally the result of a blow or impact when the object is rolled. |
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Skinning: |
Excessive intervention resulting in losses of the original media; also called “over-cleaning”, or “excessive cleaning”. |
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Smudge: |
Smear or blur caused by dirt, soot or ink. |
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Soiling: |
Dirt driven deep into the surface. |
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Split: |
A rupture or tear running along the support, usually caused by stress. |
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A discoloration, usually darkening where the media and/or support layer has been penetrated. Stain Example |
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Diminishing or removing discoloration. Stain Reduction Example |
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Support: |
Material providing the foundation for the image. i.e. paper, vellum, etc.; also, called the “primary support,” when a secondary support is present. |
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Staining caused by migration of the adhesive from self-adhesive tape into paper fibres. Tape Stain Example |
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A rupture in the support layer as a result of tension. Tear Example |
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Delaminating of paint or gouache along cracks where the delaminated media layers lift upward into a pattern resembling the peaked tops of tents. Tenting Example |
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Abrasion of paper or board support creating areas which are thinner than the surrounding support. Thinning Example |
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The dark line created by drying liquid, at the farthest point of liquid migration in the paper or board. The line itself is dirt transported by the liquid; the dirt embeds itself deeply into the paper fibres becoming tenacious and difficult to remove. Tideline Example |
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