Conservation Treatment of a Christmas Nativity Scene

This beautiful 3-dimensional nativity display was treated at Book and Paper Conservation Services nearly a year ago, but it seems appropriate to share it now for the holiday season. The cardboard fold-out die cut chromolitho shows a lushly detailed scene of the Nativity, with Mary and Joseph, the baby Jesus, and accompanying shepherds and sheep resting in a bright and peaceful manger. It is a gorgeous example of Victorian art manufacturing ingenuity, and was likely used in a store window display for the Christmas season.

The client who brought it in had fond memories of seeing it set up and displayed during her childhood, after her grandfather brought it home from work one year and it became a centrepiece of the family’s holiday traditions. She recently inherited it from her mother and wanted to display it once again at Christmas. Unfortunately time and usage had taken a toll on the delicate structure, in particular the folding mechanisms, and it was soiled and damaged beyond use.

She contacted Book and Paper Conservation Services about having it restored, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to work on such a unique artifact.

The Nativity Scene partially opened.

Broken joints visible in side view.

The display stands nearly 2 feet high when open, but folds down to a flat and compact package, and the multiple layers of scenery and figures were made to fold and slide to accomplish this. Each layer stands individually, with a wonderful pop-up 3-dimensional effect, and the front facing sides are printed with jewel-like chromolithograph ink. However, the brittle board had snapped along most of the folding joints, many figures had broken off completely, there was brittle old adhesive tape peeling off from previous repairs, and a layer of dust and grime obscured the colours.

Old adhesive tape repairs are peeling off.

Broken joints of the folding mechanisms.

Treatment began with a gentle cleaning to remove dirt from both the front and back of each individual piece; next, broken figures and fragments were reattached using stable and reversible repair methods.

Cleaning dirt and grime off the printed surfaces using distilled water and cotton swab.

The Nativity propped open for repairs.

Colours returned to brilliance with cleaning.

Finally, each folding joint was repaired by replacing the broken board tab with a strip of stiff but flexible material; this enabled the mechanism to once again fold uninhibited but also gave it the strength to stand upright in its opened position. The sections were held in place with clamps and paperclips while they dried.

Once fully repaired, the Nativity was able to be opened safely and stand on its own for display, and the incredible detail could again be appreciated.

We also provided an acid-free, archival storage box for the piece to be kept in during the rest of the year, to protect and preserve it for the future.

The heart of the Nativity scene, with jewel-like colour and 3-dimensional depth.

After conservation treatment the Nativity scene is standing tall and looking brilliant once again.

The stepped layers with folding mechanisms repaired.

The owner was thrilled to have it back, restored to its former glory, and plans to display it during this holiday season. We are so pleased to have helped her restore an important piece of her childhood and bring back a little bit of the magic of Christmas!

If you are interested in having unique family heirlooms of your own conserved or restored, contact us for more information about our services.

Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!

Conservation Treatment of Early Canadian Abolitionist Newspapers

Two issues of a rare early Canadian Abolitionist newspaper, The Voice of the Bondsman, published in 1856, recently received conservation treatment at our studio.

Historic documents allow us to learn from the past in a way that feels visceral and compelling, and the stewards of these materials have an important role to play in preserving and making them accessible for future generations. Western University Archives and Special Collections in London, Ontario, Canada holds many such unique artifacts, and we are privileged to work with them to conserve and preserve their artifacts.

The Voice of the Bondsman, Issue 1, an early Canadian Abolitionist newspaper, before conservation treatment. Shown in raking light.

The Voice of the Bondsman, Issue 2, an early Canadian Abolitionist newspaper, before conservation treatment. Shown in raking light.

We recently treated two important newspapers from Western’s collections with a special significance to the field of Canadian Black History: two rare issues of The Voice of the Bondsman, an early Canadian abolitionist newspaper printed and distributed by John James Linton. Linton, a Scottish-born settler of Stratford, Ontario, was active in the Canadian Abolitionist movement, and wrote several tracts and other publications supporting the abolition of slavery in the south. These two papers are believed to be the only extant copies of The Voice of the Bondsman, issues one and two, and were printed in 1856 and 1857 and distributed for free by Linton in the Stratford area.

The newspapers had been in Western’s archives for many years but recent interest in Abolitionist history had led to their “rediscovery” in the collections. The significance and research potential of the papers prompted Special Collections Librarian Debbie Meert-Williston to contact Book and Paper Conservation Services about having them conserved.

The Voice of the Bondsman newspaper viewed in transmitted light shows previous damage and tape repair.

When they arrived at our studio, the papers were suffering from damages and deterioration typical of artifacts of the period. At some time in their past the papers had been stored folded, and heavy creasing marred the sheets; there were a number of tears and breaks in the paper along the fold lines, and previous repairs with pressure sensitive adhesive tape were causing staining and degradation of the paper. The paper itself, although relatively good quality, was brittle and yellowed with age and some soiling had darkened the surface. We knew that with the heavy usage expected of such interesting items in the University collections, the papers would need to be in their best possible condition, so a conservation treatment was proposed that would address all of these issues.

The first step was removal of the previous pressure sensitive adhesive tape repairs.

Solvents were used to remove adhesive residue from old tape repairs on The Voice of the Bondsman, Issue 2.

After a light surface dry cleaning to remove dirt and grime, the previous pressure sensitive adhesive tape repairs were removed using a combination of solvents to release the adhesive embedded in the paper fibres.

Before and after tape and adhesive removal. Pressure sensitive tape repairs can cause damage and staining to delicate paper and must be removed.

The paper was of good quality rag as handmade papers of the 1850’s generally were, and it had held up well for over 150 years, but there was some brittleness and discolouration evident. In order to restore strength and flexibility as well as address any acid degradation, an immersion wash and deacidification treatment were performed on both newspaper issues.

Immersion wash and deacidification of the brittle paper.

The paper was resized with a gelatin solution after washing.

Finally, new repairs were made to the tears in the paper using stable and reversible Japanese tissue adhered with Jin Shofu wheat starch paste, and the documents were humidified and flattened to remove the creasing.

Stable and reversible repairs were made with Japanese tissue and Jin Shofu wheat starch paste.

The Voice of the Bondsman, Issues 1 & 2, after conservation treatment.

Custom archival enclosures were made to house the items, including mylar encapsulation sleeves and an acid-free folder for each newspaper. These will provide safe storage for the papers and make them easier to handle when accessed by researchers and students.

The Western University Archives and Research Collections Centre anticipates much interest in these items and others in their growing collection of early Black Canadian History. The documents are freely accessible to anyone at Western or in the broader research community, and will be digitized for online access. Events are being planned to discuss the papers this fall and to celebrate Black History month in February 2020; check back for more information as these are confirmed.

Book and Paper Conservation Services is pleased to have partnered with Western University to help preserve these important documents of Canadian history.

We provide conservation services for works of art on paper, archival materials and rare books for both private and institutional clients. If you are interested in having works in your collection conserved, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can also view examples of other projects we have completed below.

Mat-Cutting and Mounting Workshop with the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG)

Art conservator Jennifer Robertson will once again be teaching a one-day workshop on mat-cutting and mounting for works on paper, this time through the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG).

Mat-Cutting and Mounting

Hosted by CBBAG Southwestern Ontario Chapter

Wednesday May 8th, 2019

9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lee Valley Tools, 2100 Oxford Street, London, ON, N5V 4A4

Cost: $75.00 plus $30 Materials Fee

This workshop will demonstrate archival methods for mat cutting and mounting of works on paper. It will combine practical demonstration and hands-on activity with discussion of the role of the mat and mount in protecting an artwork, the importance of acid free materials, and the potential damages to paper without these precautions.

The design and function of mats in various formats and the benefits and drawbacks of each will be examined:  types of mat, hinging, hinging materials, hinging formats, framing.

Participants will go through the steps demonstrated to measure, cut, and mount 2 small prints (provided). Assistance and advice will be provided, as participants rotate through the steps.  (Practical time will be interspersed with lecture to allow time for participants to work through the steps with time for paste to dry and for all to take a turn with the mat cutter).

The workshop is open to the public - you don’t have to be a member of CBBAG to sign up, but registration is through the group. Learn more at the CBBAG Southwestern Ontario website.

https://www.cbbag.ca/cbbag-regional-chapters/sw-ontario

Sign up early to ensure a spot in this course!