Glass paper

I am researching the history of use and variety of glass papers 
manufactured circa 1950 to the present in conjunction with a paper 
conservation treatment of a Jasper Johns lithograph entitled, "Cup 2 
Picasso," printed on glass paper. The print suffered handling damage 
and would be a candidate for pulp fills in areas of loss if the 
support were not so unusual. Fred Siegnethaler, the Swiss papermaker 
who collaborated with Johns on this edition, has kindly provided a 
sample of his handmade glass "paper," though much experimentation 
re: glass fiber properties remains to be done. Upon completion of 
the treatment and further research, the goal is to publish the 
findings of this case study in the conservation literature.

Learning the whereabouts of the other prints from the 1973 Johns 
edition of 11--or any proofs in accessible collections--is of great 
interest. Specifically, questions to be answered concern current 
condition, method of housing, storage and display, as well as 
treatment history. Furthermore, is anyone familiar with other 
artists working on glass fibered paper as a support? With one 
exception, it seems that Johns may be in a league of his own.

Glass fibered products are generally manufactured for 
biochemical/industrial applications, though the common response to 
inquiries for technical information from chemical supply companies 
has been that the processes are proprietary. Evidently, 
"dimensionally stable" artist's papers, characterized by a 
heterogeneous furnish of cellulose and glass, were available briefly 
in the late 1960's though more information would be appreciated 
regarding suppliers, names of artists working on this experimental 
support, and collections in which these artists are represented in 
this medium.

Any leads which may inform the treatment of the Jasper Johns print 
or understanding of glass fiber products and their properties as a 
class of material(s) would be greatly appreciated.

Katrina Newbury
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, CA Palace of the Legion of Honor
Third-Year Intern, Paper Conservation


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:35
                 Distributed: Friday, December 17, 1999
                       Message Id: cdl-13-35-011
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