JAIC 1987, Volume 26, Number 2, Article 1 (pp. 65 to 73)

CRITERIA FOR TREATMENT: REVERSIBILITY

Barbara Appelbaum

ABSTRACT—The author reconsiders the “Principle of Reversibility” by clarifying its definition and by examining the variables that make a treatment reversible. Different criteria for different parts of a treatment are recommended. The relationship between cleaning and reversibility is examined. There are degrees of reversibility; even irreversible treatments should be considered in terms of whether they allow for future treatment (“re-treatability”).

Article Sections:

1. TERMINOLOGY
2. ANALYSIS OF A CONSERVATION TREATMENT
3. REVERSIBILITY AND CLEANING
4. REVERSIBILITY, INTERNAL CONSOLIDATION, AND RE-TREATABILITY”
5. CHANGES TO ORIGINAL MATERIAL
6. DISASSEMBLY AND REASSEMBLY
7. AESTHETIC ADDITIONS
8. CRITERIA FOR THE REMOVAL OF CONSERVATION MATERIALS
9. COMPLICATIONS IN THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THEORIES OF SOLUBILITY
10. DEGREES OF REVERSIBILITY AND EXTERNAL SUPPORTS
a: Notes

Entire Article