Drawing up a preventive conservation plan and having regular follow-up by qualified professionals is the guarantee that works of art will be kept in their best condition. In this interview, conservators Fernanda Perroni and Vivian Freire, partners at Conservare Conservação e Restauração de Obras de Arte, offer some precious guidance for collectors.
One of the examples they use is a comparison with ordinary furniture: just as a table that is never cleaned accumulates dust on its surface, the same happens with a work of art. They also state that a suitable place for storing or displaying the works is of vital importance for the long life of the collection. Read the full interview:
What are the main precautions a collector needs to take to preserve their works and keep them in good condition?
The most important thing is to have a preventive conservation plan guided by a conservator-restorer with regular monitoring. Preventive conservation involves several actions needed to keep a collection in a good state of conservation, such as assessments, regular cleaning, guidance on storage and display, and monitoring in order to take any corrective actions that become necessary over time.
What are the most common mistakes?
Just like other goods we acquire (such as a car, household appliances, furniture and so on), works of art also need cleaning care and a suitable environment to minimise the effects of time and other possible incidents.
Some vivid examples we give our clients to make it easier to understand: "imagine you have a small side table and that for two months you do not clean it; you will notice the amount of dust that has accumulated on it. The same happens with works of art".
"Leave a sofa under a window that lets in a lot of light/sun. After a while the fabric will be faded".
The most common mistake, in the end, is that after the purchase and installation/storage of the work, no maintenance or monitoring care is provided. This is truly important, as it can prevent a whole series of damages and prolong the life of that work, avoiding interventions having to take place more often than they should.
How important is it to have a suitable place to store the works, especially those not on display?
It is vital, because the environment is one of the key points for the conservation of works of art. There is no point in using the best storage materials, cleaning, installing correctly and taking every other precaution if the environment is inadequate, because the works will quickly begin to show problems. One of the first steps when caring for a collection is assessing the storage/display environment in order to take corrective action. There is no point in treating the works and then placing them in an unhealthy environment, which is why having a suitable environment is fundamental to the good upkeep of a collection.
When should a conservator be called in?
Ideally, when starting an art collection, the collector should have the support of a conservator. They can assist from the moment the work is received, through preparing the space to receive it, documentation, installation/storage and monitoring. Regular preventive conservation is a key factor in keeping a collection in good, well-cared-for condition.
Clé Chenue do Brasil is a private art storage facility with museum standards of climate control, security and fire prevention. It is a safe and highly qualified space for the safekeeping of collections and works, whether for the long term or for short periods, as in the case of renovations or rotations of the items on display. Discover our storage options and contact us to find the ideal solution for your collection.
