2 ANALYSIS OF A CONSERVATION TREATMENT

In order to clarify how reversibility relates to different parts of a treatment, it might be useful to divide treatment procedures into separate parts (these refer to the original treatment under question). These are given in the usual order of procedure: 1) cleaning, the removal of non-original materials either those accidentally deposited (i.e. dirt) or those applied purposely (varnish, inpaint, fillings); 2) disassembly, the separation of fragments, the removal of adhesive repairs, sewing, and mechanical constraints such as linings, patches, mounts, etc.; 3) internal consolidation of structural weakness, including impregnation, consolidation of interlayer cleavage, and the sizing of paper; 4) changes in original materials, as in the reduction of metals, bleaching, or sanding the reverse of canvas paintings; 5) repairs and reassembly, including adhesive repairs, sewing, mechanical constraints such as linings, patches, and mountings; 6) additions, largely cosmetic, as in varnishing, fillings, compensation.