Charcoal objects

Natalie Lehnhardt <natchen2786 [at] googlemail__com> writes

>My inquiry concerns dry charcoal objects from the first millennium
>BC. The objects consist of charred reed fibres. ...
>...
>... Which methods and
>techniques can be used or are already used to conserve the charred
>fibres?

One thing to try is one of the cellulose ethers--probably a
solvent-soluble rather than water-soluble one.  Usually they can
consolidate without saturating the colors or producing a gloss.  It
is important to decide in advance what the goal of the treatment is.
How much cohesion do the pieces need?

Barbara Appelbaum
Appelbaum and Himmelstein
444 Central Park West
New York, NY  10025
Conservation of Works of Art
212-666-4630


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 24:26
                Distributed: Thursday, November 18, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-24-26-004
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