Exhibiting watermarked papers

Further to Terry Conners' query and George Schwartz's response, my
feeling is that the display method would very much depend on the
inherent quality of the paper. We have had a variety of papers
displayed at Hayle Mill for many years generally with no discernible
problems. For example two of Fabriano's chiaroscuro sheets have been
sandwiched between two panes of glass above our front door (exposed
to east light) since the 1950s and have suffered little damage
despite some dampness and intruding spiders. A fine image of Queen
Elizabeth II (from Portals) has been on display between two sheet of
glass in a picture frame for a similar period, a trial sheet we made
in 1987 (a mere glimmer of time) is also fine and a sample of our
own paper from about 1820 has been similarly displayed for maybe a
hundred years.

I am much more concerned about the effects of continuous exposure to
fluorescent light and some heat sandwiched between Plexiglas. If
direct illumination is essential is there not some cold system that
could be used (such as that which backlights laptop PC screens) and
which could be off except when a button was pressed? The colour
value of lighting is also important as many fine old sheets have
interesting tints.

A good solution was that at the old Dard Hunter Museum at Appleton
where the collection was mounted between glass in frames mounted in
racks in a cabinet. Each frame could slide out on roller tracks and
the watermarked viewed by the ambient light behind it. This also had
the advantage of allowing both surfaces to be examined as well. I
believe there were about 50 watermarks displayed. I am not sure if
the display has been moved to Atlanta (but they have nice watermarks
on their web site <URL:http://www.ipst.edu/amp/>. I have heard of
similar systems elsewhere. Fabriano's Museum has magnificent angle
topped display cabinet's; I am not sure of the method of lighting.
Of course they have the advantage that if the heat or light damage
the specimens they can make some more from their existing moulds!

The irony is that papers carefully made from good materials (eg old
rare specimens) are far more likely to tolerate this type of display
than more modern materials. For example modern premium grade
business stationery turns yellow in weeks.

Simon Barcham Green

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:11
                   Distributed: Friday, July 30, 1999
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