Artcare - Auckland Art Gallery

Paper: Works / Books / Archivesbe automatically discarded. An original frame may have The Backing Board—to give additional protection abeen the choice of the artist or may be historically backing board should be included in the frame. Theimportant. Original frames can often be adapted with backboard should be rigid and preferably acid-free.minimal intervention to fulfil the required standards for Materials recommended for use include Fome-Cor (aconservation framing.polystyrene core faced with acid-free paper) and corrugatedacid-free cardboard.The Moulding—the frame moulding should be rigidand strong enough to carry all the components, the Securing and Sealing the Backing—the backing ismounted work, the glazing and the backboard, without secured using framer’s nails, known as ‘brads’, or glazer’sbowing or distorting. The frame rebate should be deep points. Care should be taken not to damage the mouldingwhen using this method as the brads and points areenough to seat all the components comfortably. Workson paper should always be mounted before framing to propelled from the gun with considerable force. Brassensure that the image is separated from the interior of nails have the advantage of not rusting. Another methodthe glazing and that the work is fully supported. This which is particularly useful when the moulding is fragilemay be overmounting, as previously described, or may is to secure the backboard using brass mirror platesinvolve the inclusion of a spacer of acid-free board in the screwed into the moulding. Standard gallery framesframe.often make use of a retaining inner frame, which allowsThe Glazing—all works of art on paper should be for easy rotation of mounted works.glazed to protect them against the damaging effects of To exclude dust and insects, brown gummed Kraftthe environment. Glass glazing is most commonly used. paper tape is used to seal the gap between the backingThe disadvantages are that it will cause damage if broken,and large works can become excessively heavy dilute methyl cellulose paste for extra adhesion.and the frame moulding. The tape can be coated withwhen framed behind equally large sheets of glass. Hanging Fixtures—D-rings are adequate hangingAcrylic sheet, such as Perspex and Plexiglass, is lighter fixtures for framed works on paper, although oversizeand more flexible than glass, but will scratch and carry works may need to be hung with more substantial fixturessuch as marine cleats. The D-rings should bean electrostatic charge which will affect some media.Ultraviolet filters are available for both glass and strung with strong nylon cord.acrylic glazing, but have a limited lifespan, and shouldbe regularly checked. Matt glass does not have any speciallight-filtering properties and it is not recommended, possible works of art on paper should be mounted priorStoring Unframed Works of Art on Paper—wheneveras to give a matt effect it has to be placed directly in to storage. Unframed works are usually stored horizontally.The mounts should be standard sizes to fit intocontact with the surface of the image.Pastel, Charcoal and Other Friable Media—friable standard-size storage boxes, files or drawers. Beforemedia, such as pastel and charcoal, are easily damaged. storing on shelves or in cabinets, works must first beThe loosely bound nature of the particles means that placed in acid-free boxes. If wooden shelving or cabinetsthese works must always be framed using glass. The are used they should be sealed and allowed to dry thoroughly,then lined with acid-free board or paper. Bakedelectrostatic charge of acrylic glazing will disrupt andattract the media. Because of their delicate nature, enamel shelving and cabinets can also be used for storageof works on paper in files and boxes.unframed pastel and charcoal works should neverbe stacked, and may require individual boxes for Shelves should not start at ground level, as theystorage.tend to become grubby and are likely to be damaged in15