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We recently had a customer bring in a large 1904 Scarborough “Classroom Map” of Pennsylvania that was in desperate need of restoration. It had long ago been nailed to a framed corkboard panel, and was in poor condition from mishandling and inadequate storage. There was a large section of damage along the right side, but few “losses” as most of the pieces were still there. The paper was in relatively good condition, but the original linen backing was deteriorating in a number of places. Considering the detail, scale and print quality of this map, it was truly a work of art. A piece of history like this is certainly worthy of preservation, but what if the price of having a piece restored by a Conservator is far beyond the monetary value of the piece? Although we’re not Conservators, we do have some conservation abilities as it pertains to picture framing.
The “before” photo of the 1904 Scarborough map. Notice the damage, losses, and the fact that it’s nailed to a board.
We look at items like this as pieces of history worthy of preservation!
There are different strategies, materials, and techniques for lining and reinforcing artwork. Since the back of this particular map was linen, and the paper and ink proved stable under temperature, we chose to use a modern heat set adhesive designed specifically for this conservation purpose. Knowing the characteristics of an adhesive (specifically melting point) we were able to adjust the temperature used in the lining process to make sure it wasn’t too hot for the artwork. We applied our archival adhesive to the back of the map, and allowed it to dry. We then carefully pieced the map and its damaged areas back together, and laid it down on an oversized cotton rag 4-ply board that was similar in color to the map. After several minutes in the vacuum heat press, we removed the mounted map and let it cool under weight. The freshly lined map was then ready to frame.
Here’s Jeremy showing off the completed “1904 Scarborough Map of Pennsylvania”! The archival repair and framing will preserve this piece for may years to come.
We chose to keep the framing simple. A float mount display such as this proudly presents the rough edges and “patina” of an object to celebrate its age. A tall black wood moulding coupled with a hidden strainer reinforcement acts as the structure, and we glazed the piece with 99% UV filtering acrylic. Backed with coroplast, and equipped with heavy duty D-hangers, this restored 1904 map is now ready to hang in its 21st century home!
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Liz Silbaugh’s recent body of work draws upon her experience growing up in the expansive spaces of the Rocky Mountain West. Ranging from small and introspective to large and airy, these canvases explore the long views and changing character of the horizon – reaching for a sense of peace and openness in paintings that feel both abstract and familiar. Within the sweep of vista in these paintings is a deep attention to the activity of surfaces, speaking to stories past, future, and everywhere around us.
Liz has begun showing her art locally, selling work here and elsewhere. She has been featured by several galleries in and around Philadelphia, completed a 2018 residency at the Brush Creek Arts Foundation (WY), and was selected for The Woodmere Annual: 78th Juried Exhibition (2019).
Check out T.W.I.G.! We’ll be featuring artists for month long exhibition throughout the year.
Working with art every day, it’s easy for us to take these visual gifts for granted. In this business, we understand the reasoning behind “just putting something on the wall” to brighten up a space and make it more inviting. But being passionate about what we do means delving into the people behind the art. We want to explore their body of work, and the message it brings. That’s why we’ve decided to share some of our favorite works, and encourage you to learn, enjoy, and collect local and national art. Please CLICK HERE to learn more about Liz and view more of her work.
Through September of 2019, T.W.I.G. features paintings by Liz Silbaugh.
Custom Picture Framer is proud to present T.W.I.G., our storefront gallery and exhibition space located in Keswick Village (N. Keswick Avenue between N. Easton Road & Abington Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038). We’ll be featuring national and local artists throughout the year, so be sure to check back each month to see new and exciting work from members of the creative community. Are you an artist interested in displaying your work? We’d love to offer you the opportunity to have a T.W.I.G. show! Please CLICK HERE for more information.
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Terms like “acid-free” and “archival” are tossed around fairly often in the art world, but what do they really mean? And how can you be sure that the materials in closest contact with your precious artwork won’t do harm over time? Well, you can start by consulting your friendly neighborhood custom picture framer!
This piece was framed decades ago with acidic matting and backing. Don’t let this happen to YOUR art!
Mats serve several purposes within a framing package. Visually, a mat creates a field between the artwork and the frame to give the viewer’s eye a resting space. Simply put, they help your art look great. And to be frank, looking great is a pretty important aspect in displaying your artwork. Mats can be the unifying factor that coordinates artwork and décor, or the “WOW” that distinguishes it. Mats can impart a greater physical presence on a smaller piece, or be a subtle contrast on a float mount. Mats are rarely a bad idea and we’re always eager to play with colors.
Less exciting but more important is the actual physical function that a mat performs. A matboard creates a small airspace that keeps your artwork from being in direct contact with the glazing, and having your valuable artwork against traditional glass isn’t archivally acceptable. Matboards come in a variety of grades, so let’s go over what differentiates them.
GOOD
Many mats are made from wood pulp, which contains a plant material known as lignin. Over time this lignin will break down and oxidize, becoming acidic, and migrate to whatever it is in contact with. In this case, your precious artwork. To offset this process, an alkaline buffer (usually calcium carbonate) may be added during the manufacturing process. This helps to neutralize the acids that are created as the lignin breaks down. However, this is only a temporary fix as ultimately the buffer will be depleted and the lignin will oxidize and become harmfully acidic. Due to this, these mats are NOT recommended for art of any significant value, be it monetary or sentimental.
BETTER
A better option is an alpha-cellulose mat. These mats are still made from wood pulp, but the potentially damaging lignin has been removed. Many of these lignin free boards still include an alkaline buffer as an added measure of protection against acid migration and atmospheric pollutants. These mats ARE acceptable for use in preservation framing.
BEST
Rag mats are made from pure 100% cotton fiber. They are naturally completely free of acids and lignin. As with alpha-cellulose mats, a buffer may still be added to prevent migrating acids from other sources. Rag mats are simply the best. Better than all the rest.
Even after all of these precautions, some mats still may have other potentially damaging components. The whitest of white paper and matboards are achieved using chemical compounds known as an optical brightening agents, or “OBAs”. These brighteners are added during the manufacturing process and absorb light rays in the ultraviolet spectrum. As a result, your eye is fooled into seeing a very bright white. However, these compounds break down over time, and what was once visually bright white will begin to appear yellow. OBA compounds are generally not considered appropriate for fine art, so we do not recommended these products for archival or conservation framing. Thankfully, with the use of a UV flashlight we can easily tell which of these matboards contain any brightening agents and choose the correct option for your project.
There’s a lot of science that goes into framing. We’re here to advise on best practices, thus leaving you free to just have fun picking out colors. Whether you’re starting from scratch on a new piece or replacing dated matting on an existing piece, we’ll help you make the right choice for your project.