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Conservation and Reproduction
Conservation and Reproduction
CONSERVATION
Conservation, or even better preventive conservation, is not merely the direct consequence of restoration but is the result of a detailed inclusive planning strategy. It is a vast issue that requires a series of archival, financial and historical evaluations that address not only the archival sector, but also the preservation of heritage per se.
Restoration is necessary when someone in the past failed to conserve something, in other words it is required to restore objects where incorrect storage conditions or use have jeopardised their state of conservation.
Conservation of seals housed in storerooms is complex as the many variables linked to the diverse materials and the different construction techniques are additional non-archival issues to be taken into consideration.
In this variegated scenario preventive conservation is based on three key steps aimed at reducing decay and virtually eliminating the need for restoration. This process consists of removing all harmful, unsuitable materials and replacing them with compatible systems, eliminating the causes of decay, in other words normalising humidity, temperature and light, and also heightening the awareness of seal custodians on conservation issues.
The core issue that poses great constraints in achieving optimal conservation conditions is often the fact that seals represent complex cultural items. Parchment, paper, wax, lead, wood, tin, sealing wax and tissue fibres clearly make up a morphologically variegated reality where each type of material requires appropriate temperature, humidity and light. Creating special storage areas with optimal parameters at least in part of the space dedicated to conservation can achieve excellent results. For example, a special storage area with optimal conditions was recently created in the storerooms of the Vatican Archives, and it is here that the most prized seals of the Archives are housed.
The risk of mechanical damage caused by banging, scratching and crushing is always present and may also occur on previously restored seals. Two strategic procedures can help achieve successful and durable storage conditions. One is to position the seals in such a way as to stop them moving around inadvertently inside their boxes, and the other is to set up an effective system to transfer them safely to the study rooms for consultation.
For example, for single sheet documents with pendent seals Sphragis uses simple and practical boxes provided with a special case for the impression. This cardboard case can be removed from the box and allows extremely easy consultation with a minimum of inappropriate handling.
Since the requirements and problems of each storeroom vary depending on its size, quality, layout and the various types of documented contained – single sheet, rolled, large or small – Sphragis plans accurate, detailed intervention procedures before commencing work.
For example, while respecting the same parameters and principles, the solutions adopted for the conservation of the seals in the Bolzano Archives differ greatly from those used in the Siena Archives, and once again from the ones employed in the Mantua, Aosta or Arezzo Archives.
Aimed conservative intervention is most problematic when dealing with applied seals that are compressed inside bound volumes or loose papers. Our intervention is limited to inserting, where possible, tissue paper separators or acid free cardboard cut-outs in order to stop the seals coming into contact with the other materials.
REPRODUCTION
The reproduction of seals has a dual purpose. One is to carry out a form of preventive restoration by removing damage caused by continual, uncontrolled consultation, and, in the case of seals, it must be kept in mind that a fair state of conservation of the writing support is often not matched by that of the relative impressions. The second is to foster the promotion of educational and cultural initiatives regarding the sphragistic heritage that to date is neither widely known, nor advanced.
Our laboratory adopts standard methods as well as more modern techniques, such as electroforming, to replicate the seals. In this way a perfect reproduction of the original seal can be produced.
It must be pointed out that "le moulage" of a seal, or of an entire collection, does not harm the originals because prime quality materials and sophisticated methods are used today. Furthermore, the ultimate aim of seal reproduction is to preserve the exemplars and create faithful reproductions of the originals. The reproductions mirror the appearance, colour and weight of the originals but can be distinguished from them by marks, numbers etc. Furthermore, the dissemination of important exemplars made in precious materials can drive major publication initiatives or support particular exhibitions.
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