The past, present and future of lead white in Denmark’s national graphic art collections

Niels Borring; David Buti; Birgit Vinther Hansen; Johanne Marie Nielsen; Morten Ryhl-Svendsen; Andreas Swane; Anna Vila

The past, present and future of lead white in Denmark’s national graphic art collections

Niels Borring, David Buti, Birgit Vinther Hansen, Johanne Marie Nielsen, Morten Ryhl-Svendsen, Andreas Swane, Anna Vila

Institute of Conservation

Publications: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

A methodical examination of the graphic collections at the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst) and Danish Royal Library (RL) has shown that circa 900 objects
from the SMK are affected by the darkening of white highlights, while up to 200 cases have been estimated to exist at the RL. Lead white was identified on all the objects studied. Artworks and housing materials from both institutions, together with a group of test samples created in the laboratory, have been examined by analytical means to better understand and locate the degradation sources. The levels of H2S in storage and galleries were also measured.In the housing materials from the SMK and RL, sulfur products were identified. Results point out that the degradation can be attributed to a combination of poor archival housing materials, outside pollutants and, in some locations, the presence of many people as well as humidity.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference Preprints : Copenhagen, 4–8 September 2017
Editors	Janet Bridgland
Number of pages	9
Place of Publication	Paris
Publisher	ICOM-CC, International Committee of Museums
Publication date	4 Sept 2017
Article number	0508
ISBN (Electronic)	978-92-9012-426-9
Publication status	Published - 4 Sept 2017
Event	ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference: Linking Past and Future - International Council of Museums - Conservation Committee, Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 4 Sept 2017 → 8 Sept 2017 Conference number: 18 http://www.icom-cc2017.org/

Conference

Conference	ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference
Number	18
Location	International Council of Museums - Conservation Committee
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Copenhagen
Period	04/09/2017 → 08/09/2017
Internet address	http://www.icom-cc2017.org/

Artistic research

No

Access to Document

http://icom-cc-publications-online.org/

ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference
Morten Ryhl-Svendsen (Speaker)
4 Sept 2017 → 8 Sept 2017
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course

En sort fremtid? En undersøgelse af mekanismer for eftermørkning af blyhvidtholdige farver på grafiske værker.
Ryhl-Svendsen, M.
01/05/2015 → 01/05/2016
Project: Research

Cite this

Borring, N., Buti, D., Vinther Hansen, B., Nielsen, J. M., Ryhl-Svendsen, M., Swane, A., & Vila, A. (2017). The past, present and future of lead white in Denmark’s national graphic art collections. In J. Bridgland (Ed.), ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference Preprints: Copenhagen, 4–8 September 2017 Article 0508 ICOM-CC, International Committee of Museums. http://icom-cc-publications-online.org/

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title = "The past, present and future of lead white in Denmark{\textquoteright}s national graphic art collections",

abstract = "A methodical examination of the graphic collections at the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst) and Danish Royal Library (RL) has shown that circa 900 objectsfrom the SMK are affected by the darkening of white highlights, while up to 200 cases have been estimated to exist at the RL. Lead white was identified on all the objects studied. Artworks and housing materials from both institutions, together with a group of test samples created in the laboratory, have been examined by analytical means to better understand and locate the degradation sources. The levels of H2S in storage and galleries were also measured.In the housing materials from the SMK and RL, sulfur products were identified. Results point out that the degradation can be attributed to a combination of poor archival housing materials, outside pollutants and, in some locations, the presence of many people as well as humidity.",

keywords = "lead white highlights, lead white darkening, degradation, hydrogen sulfide, pollutants, graphic art",

author = "Niels Borring and David Buti and {Vinther Hansen}, Birgit and Nielsen, {Johanne Marie} and Morten Ryhl-Svendsen and Andreas Swane and Anna Vila",

year = "2017",

month = sep,

day = "4",

language = "English",

editor = "Janet Bridgland",

booktitle = "ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference Preprints",

publisher = "ICOM-CC, International Committee of Museums",

note = "ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference ; Conference date: 04-09-2017 Through 08-09-2017",

url = "http://www.icom-cc2017.org/",

}

Borring, N, Buti, D, Vinther Hansen, B, Nielsen, JM, Ryhl-Svendsen, M, Swane, A & Vila, A 2017, The past, present and future of lead white in Denmark’s national graphic art collections. in J Bridgland (ed.), ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference Preprints: Copenhagen, 4–8 September 2017., 0508, ICOM-CC, International Committee of Museums, Paris, ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 04/09/2017. <http://icom-cc-publications-online.org/>

The past, present and future of lead white in Denmark’s national graphic art collections. / Borring, Niels; Buti, David; Vinther Hansen, Birgit et al.
ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference Preprints: Copenhagen, 4–8 September 2017. ed. / Janet Bridgland. Paris: ICOM-CC, International Committee of Museums, 2017. 0508.

Publications: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - The past, present and future of lead white in Denmark’s national graphic art collections

AU - Borring, Niels

AU - Buti, David

AU - Vinther Hansen, Birgit

AU - Nielsen, Johanne Marie

AU - Ryhl-Svendsen, Morten

AU - Swane, Andreas

AU - Vila, Anna

N1 - Conference code: 18

PY - 2017/9/4

Y1 - 2017/9/4

N2 - A methodical examination of the graphic collections at the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst) and Danish Royal Library (RL) has shown that circa 900 objectsfrom the SMK are affected by the darkening of white highlights, while up to 200 cases have been estimated to exist at the RL. Lead white was identified on all the objects studied. Artworks and housing materials from both institutions, together with a group of test samples created in the laboratory, have been examined by analytical means to better understand and locate the degradation sources. The levels of H2S in storage and galleries were also measured.In the housing materials from the SMK and RL, sulfur products were identified. Results point out that the degradation can be attributed to a combination of poor archival housing materials, outside pollutants and, in some locations, the presence of many people as well as humidity.

AB - A methodical examination of the graphic collections at the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst) and Danish Royal Library (RL) has shown that circa 900 objectsfrom the SMK are affected by the darkening of white highlights, while up to 200 cases have been estimated to exist at the RL. Lead white was identified on all the objects studied. Artworks and housing materials from both institutions, together with a group of test samples created in the laboratory, have been examined by analytical means to better understand and locate the degradation sources. The levels of H2S in storage and galleries were also measured.In the housing materials from the SMK and RL, sulfur products were identified. Results point out that the degradation can be attributed to a combination of poor archival housing materials, outside pollutants and, in some locations, the presence of many people as well as humidity.

KW - lead white highlights

KW - lead white darkening

KW - degradation

KW - hydrogen sulfide

KW - pollutants

KW - graphic art

M3 - Article in proceedings

BT - ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference Preprints

A2 - Bridgland, Janet

PB - ICOM-CC, International Committee of Museums

CY - Paris

T2 - ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference

Y2 - 4 September 2017 through 8 September 2017

ER -

The past, present and future of lead white in Denmark’s national graphic art collections

Abstract

Conference

Artistic research

Access to Document

Activities

ICOM-CC 18th Triennial Conference

Projects

En sort fremtid? En undersøgelse af mekanismer for eftermørkning af blyhvidtholdige farver på grafiske værker.

Cite this