Framing and Preserving an Old Document

[MissRibena]

Hi everyone

I've been given the original plans of my house drawn/painted on some kind of fabric and folded up about four times. From what I know about the age of the house, I reckon the plan dates to about 1928. It is quite delicate but not falling apart. I would really love to frame it so I could display it but I'm worried that it would start to deteriorate and/or fade.

I don't know what the material is; it's quite fine and a bit shiny. I don't think it is cotton and I guess it is probably not nylon either; linen maybe. It's mostly black ink but walls and windows are infilled with colour. I would guess it is watercolour.

I'll try the National Museum but they mightn't want to talk to me after I gave out about the Museum of Country Life so much

Thanks
Rebecca

 

[stobear]

I dont know much about this, but you could start by at least scanning the document and having a backup copy (photograph) in case something drastic happens to it in the meantime

 

[Carpenter]

You need to go to a picture framer who's a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild. Such a person will frame the work using conservation grade materials (mountboard with a neutral pH etc). Those drawings were printed on cotton and hand coloured with water colour as you say, they can look very well framed up.Check out www.fineart.co.uk for members in the republic (my father is one by the way, but I'm not touting for business, he can do that himself!)

 

[MissRibena]

Thanks stobear. I was thinking of that but was afraid that the bright light of the scanner might nuke it or something.

I got a private conservator on the phone just now and apparently the fabric is mercerised cotton, which I should have known seeing as I crochet yards of the bloody stuff on a nightly basis!

For anyone curious, the fabric needs to be mounted with stitching on a specialised padded boards prior to framing. I reckon it could wind up costing me an arm and a leg so for the time being, I'll put it down near the bottom of the list and see how much is left after I've sorted out the less romantic but more important things like central heating

Rebecca

 

[MissRibena]

Thanks Carpenter for the website. I made a few phonecalls to the local framers listed on the website but it doesn't sound like something they have much experience of. Is your Dad in Dublin? Would scanning it damage it do you think?

Rebecca

 

[Carpenter]

Hi Rebecca
My father is midlands based, I'm afraid. However I reckon that going the conservation route is probably unnecessary for this work. It's not a museum piece and these types of drawings were common enough at that time. Just go to a local framer and have it mounted and framed, the glass and board backing alone will keep dust and dirt at bay, should cost you about (is this A1 size?) €100 depending on size. Unfortunately the colour will fade in time especially if exposed to direct sunlight. These drawings were never destined for permanent display I imagine.