Scratchboard

The National Archives' collection of original war artists' material
(INF 3 series, 1939-46), mostly commissioned for propaganda and
publicity purposes by the Ministry of Information, includes a number
of small size scraperboards by unknown artists as well as R.
Sheppard, C. Keeling and O. Lehmann. As part of a major project of
conservation and rehousing of this series by Conservation
(Collection Care Department), technical examination is being carried
out on selected objects to gain greater historical understanding
that will be made available to a wider community of conservators,
historians and researchers outside The National Archives.

Preliminary research, on conservation treatment options has provided
us with limited information. We would be interested to know if
anyone has successfully managed to humidify and flatten
scraperboards as severe bowing seems to be a common problem with
this support. Recommendations for consolidants of the friable ground
would also be of great interest.

Any further treatment recommendations and historical information on
the history and manufacture of scraperboard would also be greatly
appreciated.

The National Archives
Ruskin Avenue
Kew
Surrey TW9 4DU
United Kingdom


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:23
                Distributed: Saturday, October 18, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-22-23-013
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