Just some thoughts to thicken the plot and to follow up on Wesley's posting:
A few years ago, I translated a text about the ethics of varnish removal for the Doerner-Institute, a painting conservation center located in Munich's Alte/Neue Pinakothek. The basic thrust of the argument was that, while varnish yellows over time and ultimately changes the way a painting is experienced and colors are perceived, careful thought should be given to its removal because it serves as a record, revealing as much as (or sometimes more than) the images depicted on the canvas.
Retaining a slightly sticky quality even after drying, varnish attracts dust, pollen, and other airborn particles that can reveal where the painting has been and the conditions to which it has been subjected--in effect, varnish is a chemical time capsule. Such evidence can often lead to revisions in a work's traditionally recognized provenance or help to determine if a work has been forged. While this rationale doesn't directly apply to a sofa emanating fumes strong enough to curl wall paper or offer consolation to visitors who would doubtlessly find the scent incompatable with the expected museum experience, the lingering odor is a similar document, indicating the Odysseyian journey these pieces went through on their way to a collection.
Savannah
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>>> [log in to unmask] 01/04/02 02:33PM >>>
Let me put on my old Curator of Anthropology hat for a few moments......
Why not leave the very strong odor of tobacco in the furniture? Let the artifact "speak" about the behaviors and habits of the user. Quite often the "behavioral scarring" on an artifact can enhance our understanding about the history of the artifact, its use (or misuse), and the culture (and sometimes health) of the user.
Wesley Creel
Administrator of Programs and Interim Director of Museums
Pink Palace Family of Museums
Memphis, Tennessee
www.memphismuseums.org
>>> [log in to unmask] 01/04/02 09:43AM >>>
What experience does anyone have in removing cigarette smoke smell from wood furniture? The furniture in question, a recent donation, was owned by a life-long smoker. The upholstery was cleaned, removing most of the "scent," but the wood is permeated and still exudes a very strong odor. Any recommendations?
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