As this is the second time that this link has been posted on Museum-L in the last day, I guess I should comment. I bit my tongue the first time. While this is an intriguing story full of improbability, what is missing is any discussion of professional preservation practices for an historic object. These underground "restorers" are not trained in the ethics of conservation, and the article does not indicate that they even have any relevant experience. It seems to me that the controversy should be over whether they did any harm to the historic character of the clock, but this was not mentioned in the article. This could be considered vandalism, not beneficence. The project supposedly was guided by a professional clock maker. That would be like allowing a cabinetmaker to guide conservation treatment of historic furniture. It is 99% likely that the cabinetmaker would violate most of the professional conservation ethics that have been so carefully crafted to protect our cultural heritage (link to American Institute for Conservation's Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice http://aic.stanford.edu/about/coredocs/coe/index.html). At least in the USA, this type of approach sets us backwards at least half a century, and negates all of the careful development of standards of all kinds for museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions (including historic preservation guidelines).
Had the group been composed of moonlighting conservators from France's museums, I would feel differently. However, conservators spend a large percentage of their time trying to correct improper work done by others. Often, this is not possible, as important components have been replaced, surfaces have been reworked, and evidences of manufacture and age have been destroyed. In virtually all instances, it is better for the object to do nothing than to do the wrong thing. Benign neglect is often the best conservation treatment.
Marc
American Conservation Consortium, Ltd.
4 Rockville Road
Broad Brook, CT 06016
www.conservator.com
860-386-6058
*Collections Preservation Consultation
*Conservation Assessments & Surveys
*Environmental Monitoring & Low-Tech Control
*Moisture Management Solutions
*Collections in Historic Structures
*Collections Care Grant Preparation
*Conservation Treatment of:
Furniture
Painted Wood
Horse-Drawn Vehicles
Architectural Interiors
Marc A. Williams, President
MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program
Former Chief Wooden Object Conservator, Smithsonian Institution
Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
----- Original Message -----
From: Lois Brynes
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:23 AM
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Restoration practices
This is DREAMY!
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,2217067,00.html#article_continue>
Lois Brynes, Principal
DeepTime Associates
P.O. Box 58
Rockport, MA 01966
USA
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
land 978 546-8574
air 978 290-3029
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