Image enhancement for chalk and pencil marking

I am writing to inquire about the possible illumination or better
enhancement of old chalk writing on 17th and 18th century pieces of
furniture. I am in the furniture/woodwork restoration-preservation
field and I often find that even under intense light it is very hard
to read writings on the cases of furniture that have faded or been
rubbed over through the years. Often scratches and built up layer of
dirt are also obscuring the view. Naturally disturbing such things
justifiably leads to trouble and suspicion with collectors and
museums etc.

My question is, does anyone know of a lighting technique or
dissipating chemical spray (non harmful to the piece or its
historical integrity) that will create better enhancement of these
old writings.

Don Rainville


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:19
               Distributed: Thursday, September 12, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-16-19-015
                                  ***